Methods for the suppression of neu mediated phenotype in tumors

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are methods and compositions for the suppression of expression of the neu oncogene, as well as suppression of neu oncogene-mediated transformation, tumorigenesis and metastasis. The method disclosed involves introduction of adenovirus early 1A gene (the E1A gene) products, or the large T antigen (the LT gene product), or both into affected cells. These products, which are preferably introduced by transfection of the E1A gene into affected cells, serve to suppress neu gene expression as measured by a reduction of p185 expression. Furthermore, the E1A gene products surprisingly serve to suppress the oncogenic phenotype, as indicated by a reduction in cell growth, growth in soft agar, as well as tumorigenic and metastatic potential in vivo. The inventors propose that E1A gene products, LT gene products or derivatives therefrom, may ultimately be employed a treatment modalities for neu-mediated cancers, such as cancers of the female genital tract and breast. The inventors also propose methods of transfecting cells with either the E1A or the LT gene products using adenoviral vectors or liposomes.

The U.S. Government has rights in this invention pursuant to N.I.H.Grants CA 58880, CA 60856 and CA 45265.

The present application is a continuing application of application Ser.No. 08/276,359, filed Jul. 15, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,567 issuedJul. 1, 1997, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 08/162,406 filed Dec. 3, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No.5,641,484 issued Jun. 24, 1997, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S.Ser. No. 08/070,410, filed Jun. 4, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,964issued Jul. 29, 1997, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No.07/,621,465, filed Dec. 4, 1990, now abandoned. The entire text andfigures of each of the above-referenced disclosures are specificallyincorporated herein by reference without disclaimer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to methodology and associated geneticconstructs for the suppression of oncogene-mediated, transformation,tumorigenesis and metastasis. In particular, this invention relates tothe suppression of oncogenesis that is mediated by the HER-2/c-erbB-2/neu oncogene, an oncogene which has been correlated with a poorprognosis of breast and ovarian carcinoma in humans.

B. Background of the Related Art

During the last decade, a number of human malignancies have beendiscovered to be correlated with the presence and expression of"oncogenes" in the human genome. More than twenty different oncogeneshave now been implicated in tumorigenesis, and are thought to play adirect role in human cancer (Weinberg, 1985). Many of these oncogenesapparently evolve through mutagenesis of a normal cellular counterpart,termed a "proto-oncogene", which leads to either an altered expressionor activity of the expression product. There is considerable datalinking proto-oncogenes to cell growth, including their expression inresponse to certain proliferation signals (see, e.g., Campisi et al.,1983) and expression during embryonic development (Muller et al., 1982).Moreover, a number of the proto-oncogenes are related to either a growthfactor or a growth factor receptor.

The c-erbB gene encodes the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) andis highly homologous to the transforming gene of the avianerythroblastosis virus (Downward et al., 1984). The c-erbB gene is amember of the tyrosine-specific protein kinase family to which manyproto-oncogenes belong. The c-erbB gene has recently been found to besimilar, but distinct from, an oncogene referred to variously asc-erbB-2, HER-2 or neu oncogene (referred to herein simply as the neuoncogene), now known to be intimately involved in the pathogenesis ofcancers of the human female breast and genital tract.

The neu oncogene, which encodes a p185 tumor antigen, was firstidentified in transfection studies in which NIH 3T3 cells weretransfected with DNA from chemically induced rat neuroglioblastomas(Shih et al., 1981). The p185 protein has an extracellular,transmembrane, and intracellular domain, and therefore has a structureconsistent with that of a growth factor receptor (Schechter et al.,1984). The human neu gene was first isolated due to its homology withv-erbB and EGF-r probes (Senba et al., 1985).

Molecular cloning of the transforming neu oncogene and its normalcellular counterpart, the neu proto-oncogene, indicated that activationof the neu oncogene was due to a single point mutation resulting fromone amino acid change in the transmembrane domain of the neu encodedp185 protein (Bargmann et al., 1986; Hung et al., 1989).

The neu oncogene is of particular importance to medical science becauseits presence is correlated with the incidence of cancers of the humanbreast and female genital tract. Moreover, amplification/overexpressionof this gene has been directly correlated with relapse and survival inhuman breast cancer (Slamon et al., 1987). Therefore, it is an extremelyimportant goal of medical science to evolve information regarding theneu oncogene, particularly information that could be applied toreversing or suppressing the oncogenic progression that seems to beelicited by the presence or activation of this gene. Unfortunately,little has been previously known about the manner in which one mayproceed to suppress the oncogenic phenotype associated with the presenceof oncogenes such as the neu oncogene.

An extensive body of research exists to support the involvement of amultistep process in the conversion of normal cells to the tumorigenicphenotype (see, e.g., Land et al., 1983). Molecular models supportingthis hypothesis were first provided by studies on two DNA tumor viruses,adenovirus and polyomavirus. In the case of adenovirus, it was foundthat transformation of primary cells required the expression of both theearly region 1A (E1A) and 1B (E1B) genes (Houweling et al., 1980). Itwas later found that the E1A gene products could cooperate with middle Tantigen or with activated H-ras gene to transform primary cells (Ruley,1985). These observations suggested that the involvement of multiplefunctions in the transformation process, and that various oncogenes mayexpress similar functions on a cellular level.

The adenovirus E1A gene codes for several related proteins to which anumber of interesting properties have been attributed. In addition toits ability to complement a second oncogene in transformation, a closelyrelated function allows E1A to immortalize primary cells (Ruley, 1985).For example, introduction of E1A gene products into primary cells hasbeen shown to provide these cells with an unlimited proliferativecapacity when cultured in the presence of serum.

Another interesting action of E1A function is so-called"trans-activation", wherein E1A gene products stimulate transcriptionfrom a variety of viral and cellular promoters, including the adenovirusearly and major late promoter. However, trans-activation is notuniversal for all promoters. In some instances, E1A causes a decrease intranscription from cellular promoters that are linked to enhancerelements (Haley et al., 1984). Recently, it has been shown thatexogenously added E1A gene can reduce the metastatic potential ofras-transformed rat embryo fibroblast cells by activating the cellularNM23 gene that is associated with a lower metastatic potential (Pozzattiet al., 1988; Wallich et al., 1985).

The E1A gene products are referred to as the 13S and 12S products, inreference to the sedimentation value of two mRNAs produced by the gene.These two mRNAs arise through differential splicing of a commonprecursor, and code for related proteins of 289 and 243 amino acids,respectively. The proteins differ internally by 46 amino acids that areunique to the 13S protein. A number of E1A protein species can beresolved by PAGE analysis, and presumably arise as a result of extensiveposttranslational modification of the primary translation products(Harlow et al., 1985).

Another viral oncoprotein, the SV 40 large T antigen (LT) sharesstructural and functional homology to E1A and c-myc (Figge et al.,1988). LT, E1A and c-myc have transforming domains which share aminoacid sequence homology and similar secondary structure (Figge et al.,1988). All three proteins complex with the tumor suppressor,retinoblastoma gene product (Rb) (Whyte et al., 1988, DeCaprio et al.,1988, Rustgi et al., 1991), and the Rb binding domains of LT and E1Acoincide with their transforming domains. Based on this similarity, ithas been thought that LT and E1A transform cells by binding cellular Rband abrogating its tumor suppressor function. LT, E1A and c-myc are alsogrouped as immortalization oncogenes as determined by the oncogenecooperation assay using rat embryo fibroblasts (Weinberg, 1985).

In spite of the similarity between the Rb binding domains of LT and E1A,the two proteins differ substantially in other regards. In fact, thereis apparently only a short equivalent stretch of acidic amino acids(Figge et al., 1988). This stretch lies between amino acids 106-114 inLT and amino acids 121-139 in E1A. The large T antigen is encoded by thesimian virus 40, a member of the polyoma virus family. In contrast, E1Ais encoded by adenovirus 5 virus, which is a member of the adenovirusfamily. LT is 708 amino acids long, while E1A is substantially shorterat 298 amino acids. LT has been observed to bind directly to certain DNAsequences, however, E1A has not. LT binds with the tumor suppressors Rband also with p53. E1A complexes with Rb but not with p53. E1A has beenshown to induce apoptosis in cells, this has not been demonstrated forLT.

Further, LT is an apparent anomaly in the scheme of oncogenicclassification. Oncogenes are typically classified as being cytoplasmicor nuclear oncogenes. However, LT, through the actions of a singleprotein, is able to introduce "nuclear" characteristics such asimmortalization and "cytoplasmic" characteristics such as anchorageindependence in cells (Weinberg, 1985). LT antigen can be found in boththe nucleus and at the plasma membrane, and mutations that inhibit thetransport of LT into the nucleus appear to reduce its immortalizingability while leaving intact its effect on anchorage independence andits ability to transform already immortalized cells. Consequently, thisoncogene is considered to be a member of both the nuclear andcytoplasmic oncogenic classes, since it sends its gene product to dowork at two distinct cellular sites (Weinberg, 1985). In contrast, E1Ais known as a nuclear oncogene only.

Despite advances in identifying certain components which contribute tothe development of malignancies, it is clear that the art still lackseffective means of suppressing carcinogenesis. For example, there is asyet no particularly successful way of suppressing neu oncogeneactivation or the development of various cancers, such as those of thebreast and genital tract, which are associated with this molecularevent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to overcome these and other drawbacksinherent in the prior art by providing methods for the suppression ofneu-mediated oncogenesis. Certain aspects of the present inventionrelate to the inventors' surprising discovery that, in contrast toprevious characterizations of the E1A gene and the LT gene as beinginvolved in promoting transformation, the E1A and LT gene products canactually serve to suppress not only the expression of the neu oncogene,but suppress the oncogenic phenotype which accompanies neu oncogeneactivation. Interestingly, these two gene products do so throughdifferent mechanisms. It is proposed that this exciting discovery opensthe door to novel approaches to the treatment of neu oncogene-mediatedcancers, as well as an improved understanding of the regulation of thisoncogene in particular and the oncogenic phenotype in general.

The present invention thus arises out of the inventors' surprisingdiscovery that products of the adenovirus E1A gene, a gene that isitself known to serve as an oncogene, can be effectively employed tosuppress the transforming capability of the neu oncogene. Accordingly,the invention can be characterized in a general sense as relating to amethod of suppressing neu oncogene-mediated transformation of a cell,which method includes introducing an E1A gene product into such a cellin a manner that is effective to suppress an oncogenic phenotype, asindicated by a reduction in transforming, tumorigenic or metastaticpotential of the cell.

The invention also arises out of the inventors' surprising showing thatintroduction of LT antigen into cells leads to a significant decrease inthe expression of neu encoded p185. LT, like E1A and c-myc, repressesthe upstream regulatory sequences of neu. However, LT represses adifferent region of the neu regulatory sequences compared to E1A andc-myc, suggesting LT affects neu expression through a different pathway.

Previous studies had shown that the tumor suppressor, Rb, represses theactivity of the neu promoter (Yu et al., 1992). Since Rb was known tocomplex LT, the inventors investigated whether LT-Rb complex mightaffect the LT-mediated neu repression. Surprisingly, the inventors foundthat the Rb binding domain of LT is not required for its function inrepressing neu promoter, indicating LT can repress neu expressionwithout binding Rb. This indicates that LT and E1A are not acting in thesame manner. Moreover, a nontransforming mutant of LT (K1), capable ofrepressing the transforming activity of neu, has been discovered.Repression of neu by LT is, therefore independent of its ability tocomplex Rb and to transform cells. Therefore, although E1A, LT and c-mycshare a common domain for transformation (Figge et al., 1988) and Rbbinding (Whyte et al., 1988; DeCaprio et al., 1988; Rustigi et al.,1991), this domain, at least in LT, is not required for repression ofthe neu promoter. This supports the observation that LT represses neuvia a different pathway compared to E1A and c-myc.

These results also show that K1, a LT mutant which is defective for bothRb binding and transformation, can function as a transformationsuppressor of the activated neu oncogene. This finding allows for thedevelopment of therapeutic agents that down-modulate neu expression inhuman cancers.

In general, in that it is proposed that the E1A gene products and LT aredirectly responsible for the observed suppressions of the oncogenicphenotype, it is believed that the objects of the invention may beachieved by introduction of E1A gene products or LT intracellularly inany convenient manner, including, for example, virus mediated genetransfer, DNA transfection via calcium phosphate or liposome methods,and even direct introduction of gene products by microinjection. It isproposed that methods such as these will work adequately, e.g., whereone is seeking to study neu oncogene suppression. However, where atreatment regimen is contemplated it will likely be necessary tointroduce the selected E1A gene product or LT by intracellularintroduction of a DNA segment which encodes the particular domain of theE1A protein or LT that is required for repression of neu.

In any event, since the E1A gene products have been extensivelycharacterized, and the gene itself has been cloned (see, e.g., Berk etal., 1978), the starting materials, i.e., the E1A products and gene, arereadily available to those of skill in the art who desire to practicethe invention.

LT is also characterized and the gene has been cloned. The entire SV40nucleotide sequence is disclosed in the book Molecular Biology of TumorViruses, Part 2, 2d. ed., Tooze, J., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, ColdSpring Harbor, New York (1981), Appendix A, pgs. 799-813. In addition tothe genomic sequence, Molecular Biology of Tumor Viruses contains a mapof SV40 landmarks including the location of the large T antigen withinthe SV40 genome pg. 813!. The references Fiers et al., 1978 and Reddy etal., 1978 also report the genetic sequences of SV40. The amino acidsequence of LT can be found in Molecular Biology of Tumor Viruses, pgs.854 and 857-861. Various mutant of native LT have been described. Forexample, Kalderon et al. (1984) describe many LT mutations, which werethe result of deletion and point mutations of the native LT gene. Therelevant amino acid sequences of each LT mutant reported in Kalderon etal. are contained in Table 2 of that reference. By combining theinformation in Kalderon et al. (1984) with the sequence information fornative LT contained in Molecular Biology of Tumor Viruses, the sequencefor any of these mutants can be determined. All of the genomic and aminoacid sequences of native LT and LT mutants contained in the referencescited in this paragraph are incorporated by reference in thisspecification.

Introduction of Gene Products

Where the gene itself is employed to introduce the gene products, aconvenient method of introduction will be through the use of arecombinant vector which incorporates the desired gene, together withits associated control sequences. The preparation of recombinant vectorsis well known to those of skill in the art and described in manyreferences, such as, for example, Sambrook et al. (1989), specificallyincorporated herein by reference.

In vectors, it is understood that the DNA coding sequences to beexpressed, in this case those encoding the neu-suppressing geneproducts, are positioned adjacent to and under the control of apromoter. It is understood in the art that to bring a coding sequenceunder the control of such a promoter, one generally positions the 5' endof the transcription initiation site of the transcriptional readingframe of the gene product to be expressed between about 1 and about 50nucleotides "downstream" of (i.e., 3' of) the chosen promoter. One mayalso desire to incorporate into the transcriptional unit of the vectoran appropriate polyadenylation site (e.g., 5'-AATAAA-3'), if one was notcontained within the original inserted DNA. Typically, these poly Aaddition sites are placed about 30 to 2000 nucleotides "downstream" ofthe coding sequence at a position prior to transcription termination.

While use of the control sequences of the specific gene (i.e., the E1Apromoter for E1A and the LT promoter for LT) will be preferred, there isno reason why other control sequences could not be employed, so long asthey are compatible with the genotype of the cell being treated. Thus,one may mention other useful promoters by way of example, including,e.g., an SV40 early promoter, a long terminal repeat promoter fromretrovirus, an actin promoter, a heat shock promoter, a metallothioneinpromoter, and the like.

For introduction of the E1A or LT gene, it is proposed that one willdesire to preferably employ a vector construct that will deliver thedesired gene to the affected cells. This will, of course, generallyrequire that the construct be delivered to the targeted tumor cells, forexample, breast, genital, or lung tumor cells. It is proposed that thismay be achieved most preferably by introduction of the desired genethrough the use of a viral vector to carry either the E1A or LTsequences to efficiently infect the tumor, or pretumorous tissue. Thesevectors will preferably be an adenoviral, a retroviral, a vaccinia viralvector or adeno-associated virus. These vectors are preferred becausethey have been successfully used to deliver desired sequences to cellsand tend to have a high infection efficiency.

Commonly used viral promoters for expression vectors are derived frompolyoma, cytomegalovirus, Adenovirus 2, and Simian Virus 40 (SV40). Theearly and late promoters of SV40 virus are particularly useful becauseboth are obtained easily from the virus as a fragment which alsocontains the SV40 viral origin of replication. Smaller or larger SV40fragments may also be used, provided there is included the approximately250 bp sequence extending from the Hind III site toward the Bgl I sitelocated in the viral origin of replication. Further, it is alsopossible, and often desirable, to utilize promoter or control sequencesnormally associated with the desired gene sequence, provided suchcontrol sequences are compatible with the host cell systems.

The origin of replication may be provided either by construction of thevector to include an exogenous origin, such as may be derived from SV40or other viral (e.g., Polyoma, Adeno, VSV, BPV) source, or may beprovided by the host cell chromosomal replication mechanism. If thevector is integrated into the host cell chromosome, the latter is oftensufficient.

A particularly desirable vector, at least as a starting point, is theE1A containing retroviral vector, termed pSVXE1A-G, described by Robertet al., 1985. This vector comprises the E1A gene which has been broughtunder the control of the SV-40 early promoter. For LT expression, thepZ189 (driven by the SV-80 promoter) and the pVU-O vectors both containLT. LT mutants are contained in, for example, pK1 and pK7 as well asother vectors described by Kalderon et al. 1984. The inventors proposethat these constructs could either be used directly in the practice ofthe invention, or could be used as a starting point for the introductionof other more desirable promoters such as those discussed above.

A preferred method of introducing the E1A gene to an animal is tointroduce a replication-deficient adenovirus containing the E1A gene. Anexample of such an adenovirus is Ad.E1A(+). Since adenovirus is a commonvirus infecting humans in nature and the E1A gene is a gene that ispresent in native adenovirus, the use of a replication deficient E1Avirus to introduce the gene may efficiently deliver and express E1A intotarget cells. The replication-deficient E1A virus made by E1B and E3deletion also avoids the viral reproduction inside the cell and transferto other cells and infection of other people, which means the viralinfection activity is shut down after it infects the target cell. TheE1A gene still is expressed inside the cells. Also, unlike retrovirus,which can only infect proliferating cells, adenovirus is able totransfer the E1A gene into both proliferating and non-proliferatingcells. Further, the extrachromosomal location of adenovirus in theinfected cells decreases the chance of cellular oncogene activationwithin the treated animal. While the wild-type adenovirus may be useddirectly to transfer the E1A gene into HER-2/neu expressing cancercells, wild-type virus will produce large amounts of adenovirus in thehuman body and therefore might cause potential side effects due to thereplication competent nature of the wild type adenovirus. It istherefore an advantage to use the replication-deficient adenovirus suchas E1B and E3 deletion mutant Ad.E1A(+) to prevent such side effects. Infact, many modifications in the native adenovirus will result in amodified virus that will be useful for the purpose of the invention.Further modification of adenovirus such as E2A deletion may improve theE1A expression efficiency and reduce the side effects. The onlyrequirement of a native or modified adenovirus is that it should expressan E1A gene in order to have the utility of the invention.

Introduction of the adenovirus containing the E1A gene into a suitablehost is typically done by injecting the virus contained in a buffer.

One manner in which the E1A gene that is contained in an adenovirus canbe used is by introducing an LT gene product into such a cell as part ofthe same treatment method. The LT gene product can be an LT mutant,especially a nontransforming mutant such as K1. Such introduction cantypically involve the introduction of an LT gene. In some preferredmethods, the LT gene can be introduced by the use of an adenovirus thatcontains both the E1A gene and the LT gene. In this case, adenovirus isa preferably a replication-deficient adenovirus such as the Ad.E1A(+)adenovirus. However, the introduction of the LT gene can be by anymanner described in this specification or known to those of skill in theart such as viral, plasmid, retroviral vectors or liposomes.

The present invention also provides particularly useful methods forintroducing neu-suppressing gene products into cells. One method of invivo gene transfer which can lead to expression of genes transfectedinto cells involves the use of liposomes. Liposomes can be used for bothin vitro and in vivo transfection. Liposome-mediated gene transfer seemsto have great potential for certain in vivo applications in animals(Nicolau et al., 1987). Studies have shown that intravenously injectedliposomes are taken up essentially in the liver and the spleen, by themacrophages of the reticuloendothelial system. The specific cellularsites of uptake of injected liposomes appears to be mainly spleenmacrophages and liver Kupffer cells. Intravenous injection ofliposomes/DNA complexes can lead to the uptake of DNA by these cellularsites, and result in the expression of a gene product encoded in the DNA(Nicolau, 1983).

The inventors contemplate that neu-suppressing gene products can beintroduced into cells using liposome-mediated gene transfer. It isproposed that such constructs can be coupled with liposomes and directlyintroduced via a catheter, as described by Nabel et al. (1990). Byemploying these methods, the neu-suppressing gene products can beexpressed efficiently at a specific site in vivo, not just the liver andspleen cells which are accessible via intravenous injection. Therefore,this invention also encompasses compositions of DNA constructs encodinga neu-suppressing gene product formulated as a DNA/liposome complex andmethods of using such constructs.

Liposomal transfection can be via liposomes composed of, for example,phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylserine (PS), cholesterol (Chol),N- 1-(2,3-dioleyloxy)propyl!-N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA),dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), and/or 3βN-(N'N'-dimethylaminoethane)-carbarmoyl cholesterol (DC-Chol), as wellas other lipids known to those of skill in the art. Those of skill inthe art will recognize that there are a variety of liposomaltransfection techniques which will be useful in the present invention.Among these techniques are those described in Nicolau et al., 1987,Nabel et al., 1990, and Gao et al., 1991. The inventors have hadparticular success with liposomes comprising DC-Chol. More particularly,the inventors have had success with liposomes comprising DC-Chol andDOPE which have been prepared following the teaching of Gao et al.,1991, in the manner described in the Preferred Embodiments Section. Theinventors also anticipate utility for liposomes comprised of DOTMA, suchas those which are available commercially under the trademarkLipofectin™, from Vical, Inc., in San Diego, Calif.

Liposomes may be introduced into contact with cells to be transfected bya variety of methods. In cell culture, the liposomes can simply bedispersed in the cell culture solution. For application in vivo,liposomes are typically injected. Intravenous injection allowliposome-mediated transfer of DNA complex to the liposomes to, forexample, the liver and the spleen. In order to allow transfection of DNAinto cells which are not accessible through intravenous injection, it ispossible to directly inject the liposome-DNA complexes into a specificlocation in an animal's body. For example, Nabel et al. teach injectionvia a catheter into the arterial wall. In another example, the inventorshave used intraperitoneal injection to allow for gene transfer intomice.

The present invention also contemplates compositions comprising aliposomal complex. This liposomal complex will comprise a lipidcomponent and a DNA segment encoding a neu-suppressing gene. Theneu-suppressing gene employed in the liposomal complex can be, forexample, an LT gene or an E1A gene. Liposomal complexes comprising LTmutants may have certain advantages. These advantages may beparticularly distinct when the LT gene encodes non-transforming LTmutant, such as K1. An E1A gene encoding either the E1A 12S or E1A 13Sgene product, or both, may be complexed with a lipid to form theliposomal complex.

The lipid employed to make the liposomal complex can be any of theabove-discussed lipids. In particular, DOTMA, DOPE, and/or DC-Chol mayform all or part of the liposomal complex. The inventors have hadparticular success with complexes comprising DC-Chol. In a preferredembodiment, the lipid will comprise DC-Chol and DOPE. While any ratio ofDC-Chol to DOPE is anticipated to have utility, it is anticipated thatthose comprising a ratio of DC-Chol:DOPE between 1:20 and 20:1 will beparticularly advantageous. The inventors have found that liposomesprepared from a ratio of DC-Chol:DOPE of about 1:10 to about 1:5 havebeen useful in the studies they have performed. In most studies, theinventors have used a ratio of 1.2 μmol DC-Chol:8.0 μmol DOPE.

The present invention also comprises kits for the introduction of aneu-suppressing gene product into a cell comprising a neu-suppressingDNA/liposome complex.

In that the inventors' studies have demonstrated that both the 12S E1A,13S E1A, and LT gene products are capable of suppressing neu geneexpression, it is proposed that one may employ any product, or two ormore together, in the practice of the invention. Of course, in that the12S and 13S products are derived from essentially the same genesequences, and are merely the result of differential splicing, where theE1A gene itself is employed it will be most convenient to simply use thewild type E1A gene directly. However, it is contemplated that certainregions of either the E1A or the LT gene may be employed exclusivelywithout employing the entire wild type E1A or LT gene respectively. Itis proposed that it will ultimately be preferable to employ the smallestregion needed to suppress the neu gene so that one is not introducingunnecessary DNA into cells which receive either an E1A or LT geneconstruct. This may especially be true with regards to the rather large,708 amino acid, LT protein. Techniques well known to those of skill inthe art, such as the use of restriction enzymes, will allow for thegeneration of small regions of E1A and LT. The ability of these regionsto inhibit new can easily be determined by the assays reported in theExamples.

In general, techniques for assessing the reduction in transforming,tumorigenic or metastatic potential are well known in the art. Forexample, the simplest assay is to measure the level of DNA synthesis intreated versus nontreated cells, in that DNA synthesis is a good measureof cell growth potential. Furthermore, the ability of transformed cellsas compared to non-transformed cells to grow in soft agar has beenwidely employed as a measure of the transformation. Thus, either ofthese two assay techniques may be conveniently employed to assess theability of the E1A or LT products employed to suppress neu oncogenemediated transformation.

A number of accepted assays are also available where one desires toassess suppression of neu oncogene-mediated tumorigenic or metastaticpotential. The most convenient indicator of tumorigenic potential, andindeed the most reliable, is an in vivo assay employing nude mice,wherein the ability of treated cells to cause tumors in the mice isassessed. Nude mice may be similarly employed where one desires toassess metastatic potential, by determining the ability of treated cellsto form metastatic nodules, for example, in the lungs of experimentalmice.

In that the inventors have observed that E1A gene products and LTfunction through direct suppression of neu gene expression, theinvention further concerns a method for suppressing neu gene expressionor overexpression. In these embodiments, the method includes introducingan E1A gene product or LT into the affected cell in a manner effectiveto suppress the cellular level of the neu p185 transmembrane protein.The suppression of p185 expression may be readily assessed by a numberof available methods, including most conveniently, electrophoretic gelanalysis to determine a reduction in p185 levels. It is proposed thatthe same means of introducing the E1A gene, its products, or LT, will beapplicable in these further embodiments as discussed in connection withthe transformation embodiments above.

Suppression of neu-Mediated Oncogenesis

Certain embodiments of the present invention concern methods forsuppressing neu oncogene-mediated transformation of a cell comprisingintroduction of a transformation suppressing amount of an LT geneproduct into the cell in a manner effective to suppress an oncogenicphenotype. Suppression of an oncogenic phenotype is indicated by areduction in the transforming, tumorigenic or metastatic potential ofthe cell, which can be measured via the assays described above.

In some embodiments of the invention, new oncogene-mediatedtransformation of the cell will be suppressed by an LT mutant which isnontransforming. Examples of such nontransforming mutants are K1 and K7.

Methods for introducing the LT gene product into the cell include theintroduction of a DNA segment which encodes the LT gene product. In manycases, the DNA segment which comprises the LT gene will also compriseassociated controlled sequences from the LT gene. Introduction of DNAsegments which encode the LT gene product can be achieved by any of avariety of means known to those of skill in the art. However, theinventors anticipate the particularly good results might be achieved bythe introduction of the DNA through a vector, or through the preciselydescribed liposome-mediated gene transfer techniques. Of course, thoseof skill will understand that other methods of genetic transfer such asretrovirus vectors, adenovirus vectors, and adeno-associated virusvectors will also be useful in regards to the present invention.

Plasmid vectors, viral vectors such as adenoviral, retroviral, polyoma,cytomegaloviral and SV40 vectors are all anticipated to have utilitywith regards to methods of the present invention. However, certainpreferred embodiments will comprise the use of plasmid vectorscomprising DNA segments which encode an LT gene product. Exemplaryplasmid vectors comprise pZ189, pVU-0, pK1, pK7, pSV2l421, pSVdl423,psVdl425, pSVdl428, and pSVdl451. The pSVdl series of vectors isdescribed in Sullenger et al. (1990). An exemplary retroviral vector foruse in regards to the present invention is pBabe-neo (Morgenstern et al.1990).

In certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, the LT geneproduct is introduced into a cell of a multi-cellular organism.Typically, commercial embodiments of the invention will involve theintroduction of the LT gene product into mammals, since the mammalsencompass most commercially important animals for both livestock andhealth purposes. Obviously, some of the most important embodiments ofthe invention will be those directed towards the suppression ofneu-mediated cancer in human beings.

The methods of the present invention will allow for the suppression of avariety of neu-mediated oncogenic phenotypes. Examples of suchphenotypes are: (1) the ability to grow in soft agar; (2) the ability toform foci; and (3) a transformed morphology. In preferred embodiments ofthe invention, the oncogenic phenotype will be cancer. Particularcancers against which the present invention is anticipated to be mostuseful are any exhibiting neu-overexpression, such as cancers of thehuman breast, ovaries, lungs, gastric system, oral mucosa, and prostate.The methods of the present invention will be directed, in some casestowards the suppression of either the tumorigenic potential of the cell,the metastatic potential of the cell, or a combination of both.

Certain embodiments of the present invention comprise the introductionof both the LT antigen gene product and the E1A gene product into thesame cell. Both the E1A gene product and the LT gene product have theability to suppress neu-mediated cancer. However, the inventors havereported the surprising and unexpected finding that these two proteinssuppress neu-mediated cancer in different manners. That either E1A or LTsuppresses neu-mediated cancer is surprising in itself, since both geneproducts are known to have their own transforming properties. However,the fact that E1A and LT employ different mechanisms to allow forsuppression of neu-mediated cancer would not at all be expected in viewof the art. Owing to the facts that LT and E1A employ differentmechanisms of neu-suppression, it will be possible to use both geneproducts in combination to doubly protect against neu-mediatedsuppression.

In embodiments which call for the introduction of both an E1A geneproduct and an LT gene product into the same population of cells, atypical manner of introduction of each of the products will be throughthe introduction of DNA segments which encode each product. Thesesegments may be transfected simultaneously, or at separate times. Thetransfection may occur through any of the vectors discussed above,through liposome-mediated gene transfer, or through any of the othermethods of gene transfer known to those in the art. Any of the LTantigen gene products discussed above will have utility in thisembodiment of the invention. For example, LT, K1, and K7 are allanticipated to have utility when introduced in conjunction with an E1Agene product. Exemplary E1A gene products which will be useful in thepresent invention include E1A 12S and E1A 13S. Of course, it will alsobe possible to introduce the E1A and LT gene products directly intocells, or to introduce one product directly and the other via DNAtransfection, depending on the needs of a particular cell.

In some embodiments of the invention, DNA segments encoding both an E1Agene product and an LT gene product can be linked in the same DNAsegment. Further, each of these gene products may be placed under thecontrol of the same set of regulatory sequences. In this manner,simultaneous transfection and expression of E1A and LT gene products maybe achieved.

Since simultaneous transfection with E1A and LT will lead to two typesof neu-suppression, it is anticipated that the combination will beparticularly useful in preventing cancer. The methods of theseembodiments may be used to reduce the transforming potential,tumorigenic potential and/or metastatic potential of cells.

Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms "a" and "an"mean "one or more" when used in this application, including the claims.

Definitions and Techniques Affecting Gene Products and Genes

E1A Gene Products and Genes

In this patent the terms "E1A gene product" and "E1A" refers to proteinshaving amino acid sequences which are substantially identical to thenative E1A amino acid sequence and which are biologically active in thatthey are capable of binding to Rb, suppressing neu oncogene-mediatedtransformation, immortalizing cells, or cross-reacting with anti-E1Aantibody raised against E1A. Such sequences are disclosed, for example,in Berk et al., 1978. The term "E1A gene product" also includes analogsof E1A molecules which exhibit at least some biological activity incommon with native E1A. Furthermore, those skilled in the art ofmutagenesis will appreciate that other analogs, as yet undisclosed orundiscovered, may be used to construct E1A analogs. Such analogs may begenerated in the manners described for the generation of LT mutants inKalderon et al. (1984). There is no need for an "E1A gene product" or"E1A" to comprise all, or substantially all of the amino acid sequenceof the native E1A gene. Shorter or longer sequences are anticipated tobe of use in the invention.

The term "E1A gene" refers to any DNA sequence that is substantiallyidentical to a DNA sequence encoding an E1A gene product as definedabove. The term also refers to RNA, or antisense sequences compatiblewith such DNA sequences. An "E1A gene" may also comprise any combinationof associated control sequences.

The term "substantially identical", when used to define either an E1Aamino acid sequence or E1A gene nucleic acid sequence, means that aparticular subject sequence, for example, a mutuant sequence, variesfrom the sequence of natural E1A by one or more substitutions,deletions, or additions, the net effect of which is to retain at leastsome biological activity of the E1A protein. Alternatively, DNA analogsequences are "substantially identical" to specific DNA sequencesdisclosed herein if: (a) the DNA analog sequence is derived from codingregions of the natural E1A gene; or (b) the DNA analog sequence iscapable of hybridization of DNA sequences of (a) under moderatelystringent conditions and which encode biologically active E1A; or (c)DNA sequences which are degenerative as a result of the genetic code tothe DNA analog sequences defined in (a) or (b). Substantially identicalanalog proteins will be greater than about 80% similar to thecorresponding sequence of the native protein. Sequences having lesserdegrees of similarity but comparable biological activity are consideredto be equivalents. In determining nucleic acid sequences, all subjectnucleic acid sequences capable of encoding substantially similar aminoacid sequences are considered to be substantially similar to a referencenucleic acid sequence, regardless of differences in codon sequence.

LT Gene Products and Genes

In this patent the terms "LT gene product" and "LT" refers to proteinshaving amino acid sequences which are substantially identical to thenative LT amino acid sequence and which are biologically active in thatthey are capable of binding to Rb, suppressing neu oncogene-mediatedtransformation, immortalizing cells, inducing anchorage independency, orcross-reacting with anti-LT antibody raised against LT. Such sequencesare disclosed, for example, in Tooze--Molecular Biology of the TumorViruses, Fiers et al., 1978, and Reddy et al. 1978. The term "LT geneproduct" also includes analogs of LT molecules which exhibit at leastsome biological activity in common with native LT. Examples of such LTanalogs are K1 and K7, which are defective for transformation of cells(Kalderon et al., 1984). Many other exemplary LT analogs are disclosedin Kalderon et al. 1984, particularly in Table 2. Furthermore, thoseskilled in the art of mutagenesis will appreciate that other analogs, asyet undisclosed or undiscovered, may be used to construct LT analogs.There is no need for an "LT gene product" or "LT" to comprise all, orsubstantially all of the amino acid sequence of the native LT gene.Shorter or longer sequences are anticipated to be of use in theinvention.

The term "LT gene" refers to any DNA sequence that is substantiallyidentical to a DNA sequence encoding an LT gene product as definedabove. The term also refers to RNA, or antisense sequences compatiblewith such DNA sequences. An "LT gene" may also comprise any combinationof associated control sequences.

The term "substantially identical", when used to define either an LTamino acid sequence or an LT nucleic acid sequence, means that aparticular subject sequence, for example, a mutant sequence, varies fromthe sequence of natural LT by one or more substitutions, deletions, oradditions, the net effect of which is to retain at least some biologicalactivity of the LT protein. Alternatively, DNA analog sequences are"substantially identical" to specific DNA sequences disclosed herein if:(a) the DNA analog sequence is derived from coding regions of thenatural LT gene; or (b) the DNA analog sequence is capable ofhybridization of DNA sequences of (a) under moderately stringentconditions and which encode biologically active LT; or (c) DNA sequenceswhich are degenerative as a result of the genetic code to the DNA analogsequences defined in (a) or (b). Substantially identical analog proteinswill be greater than about 80% similar to the corresponding sequence ofthe native protein. Sequences having lesser degrees of similarity butcomparable biological activity are considered to be equivalents. Indetermining nucleic acid sequences, all subject nucleic acid sequencescapable of encoding substantially similar amino acid sequences areconsidered to be substantially similar to a reference nucleic acidsequence, regardless of differences in codon sequence.

Percent Similarity

Percent similarity may be determined, for example, by comparing sequenceinformation using the GAP computer program, available from theUniversity of Wisconsin Geneticist Computer Group. The GAP programutilizes the alignment method of Needleman et al., 1970, as revised bySmith et al., 1981. Briefly, the GAP program defines similarity as thenumber of aligned symbols (i.e. nucleotides or amino acids) which aresimilar, divided by the total number of symbols in the shorter of thetwo sequences. The preferred default parameters for the GAP programinclude (1) a unitary comparison matrix (containing a value of 1 foridentities and 0 for non-identities) of nucleotides and the weightedcomparison matrix of Gribskov et al., 1986, as described by Schwartz etal., 1979; (2) a penalty of 3.0 for each gap and an additional 0.01penalty for each symbol and each gap; and (3) no penalty for end gaps.

Nucleic Acid Sequences

In certain embodiments, the invention concerns the use ofneu-suppressing genes and gene products, such as the LT antigen geneproduct or the E1A gene product, or both, that include within theirrespective sequences a sequence which is essentially that of the knownLT antigen gene or E1A gene, or the corresponding proteins. The term "asequence essentially as that of LT antigen or E1A" means that thesequence substantially corresponds to a portion of the LT antigen or E1Agene and has relatively few bases or amino acids (whether DNA orprotein) which are not identical to those of LT or E1A (or abiologically functional equivalent thereof, when referring to proteins).The term "biologically functional equivalent" is well understood in theart and is further defined in detail herein. Accordingly, sequenceswhich have between about 70% and about 80%; or more preferably, betweenabout 81% and about 90%; or even more preferably, between about 91% andabout 99%; of amino acids which are identical or functionally equivalentto the amino acids of LT antigen or E1A will be sequences which are"essentially the same".

LT antigen and E1A genes which have functionally equivalent codons arealso covered by the invention. The term "functionally equivalent codon"is used herein to refer to codons that encode the same amino acid, suchas the six codons for arginine or serine, and also refers to codons thatencode biologically equivalent amino acids (Table 1).

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Functionally Equivalent Codons.                                               Amino Acids    Codons                                                         ______________________________________                                        Alanine   Ala    A     GCA  GCC  GCG  GCU                                     Cysteine  Cys    C     UGC  UGU                                               Aspartic acid                                                                           Asp    D     GAC  GAU                                               Glutamic acid                                                                           Glu    E     GAA  GAG                                               Phenylalanine                                                                           Phe    F     UUC  UUU                                               Glycine   Gly    G     GGA  GGC  GGG  GGU                                     Histidine His    H     CAC  CAU                                               Isoleucine                                                                              Ile    I     AUA  AUC  AUU                                          Lysine    Lys    K     AAA  AAG                                               Leucine   Leu    L     UUA  UUG  CUA  CUC  CUG  CUU                           Methionine                                                                              Met    M     AUG                                                    Asparagine                                                                              Asn    N     AAC  AAU                                               Proline   Pro    P     CCA  CCC  CCG  CCU                                     Glutamine Gln    Q     CAA  CAG                                               Arginine  Arg    R     AGA  AGG  CGA  CGC  CGG  CGU                           Serine    Ser    S     AGC  AGU  UCA  UCC  UCG  UCU                           Threonine Thr    T     ACA  ACC  ACG  ACU                                     Valine    Val    V     GUA  GUC  GUG  GUU                                     Tryptophan                                                                              Trp    W     UGG                                                    Tyrosine  Tyr    Y     UAC  UAU                                               ______________________________________                                    

It will also be understood that amino acid and nucleic acid sequencesmay include additional residues, such as additional N- or C-terminalamino acids or 5' or 3' sequences, and yet still be essentially as setforth in one of the sequences disclosed herein, so long as the sequencemeets the criteria set forth above, including the maintenance ofbiological protein activity where protein expression is concerned. Theaddition of terminal sequences particularly applies to nucleic acidsequences which may, for example, include various non-coding sequencesflanking either of the 5' or 3' portions of the coding region or mayinclude various internal sequences, i.e., introns, which are known tooccur within genes.

The present invention also encompasses the use of DNA segments which arecomplementary, or essentially complementary, to the sequences set forthin the specification. Nucleic acid sequences which are "complementary"are those which are capable of base-pairing according to the standardWatson-Crick complementarity rules. As used herein, the term"complementary sequences" means nucleic acid sequences which aresubstantially complementary, as may be assessed by the same nucleotidecomparison set forth above, or as defined as being capable ofhybridizing to the nucleic acid segment in question under relativelystringent conditions such as those described herein.

Biologically Functional Equivalents

As mentioned above, modification and changes may be made in thestructure of E1A or LT and still obtain a molecule having like orotherwise desirable characteristics. For example, certain amino acidsmay be substituted for other amino acids in a protein structure withoutappreciable loss of interactive binding capacity with structures suchas, for example, the neu-gene. Since it is the interactive capacity andnature of a protein that defines that protein's biological functionalactivity, certain amino acid sequence substitutions can be made in aprotein sequence (or, of course, its underlying DNA coding sequence) antnevertheless obtain a protein with like or even countervailingproperties (e.g., antagonistic v. agonistic). It is thus contemplated bythe inventors that various changes may be made in the sequence of theE1A or LT proteins or peptides (or underlying DNA) without appreciableloss of their biological utility or activity.

It is also well understood by the skilled artisan that, inherent in thedefinition of a biologically functional equivalent protein or peptide,is the concept that there is a limit to the number of changes that maybe made within a defined portion of the molecule and still result in amolecule with an acceptable level of equivalent biological activity.Biologically functional equivalent peptides are thus defined herein asthose peptides in which certain, not most or all, of the amino acids maybe substituted. Of course, a plurality of distinct proteins/peptideswith different substitutions may easily be made and used in accordancewith the invention.

It is also well understood that where certain residues are shown to beparticularly important to the biological or structural properties of aprotein or peptide, e.g., residues in active sites, such residues maynot generally be exchanged. This is the case in the present invention,where it any changes in the neu-binding region of either E1A or LT thatrender the peptide incapable of suppressing neu-mediated transformationwould result in a loss of utility of the resulting peptide for thepresent invention.

Amino acid substitutions, such as those which might be employed inmodifying either E1A or LT are generally based on the relativesimilarity of the amino acid side-chain substituents, for example, theirhydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, charge, size, and the like. An analysisof the size, shape and type of the amino acid side-chain substituentsreveals that arginine, lysine and histidine are all positively chargedresidues; that alanine, glycine and serine are all a similar size; andthat phenylalanine, tryptophan and tyrosine all have a generally similarshape. Therefore, based upon these considerations, arginine, lysine andhistidine; alanine, glycine and serine; and phenylalanine, tryptophanand tyrosine; are defined herein as biologically functional equivalents.

In making such changes, the hydropathic index of amino acids may beconsidered. Each amino acid has been assigned a hydropathic index on thebasis of their hydrophobicity and charge characteristics, these are:isoleucine (+4.5); valine (+4.2); leucine (+3.8); phenylalanine (+2.8);cysteine/cystine (+2.5); methionine (+1.9); alanine (+1.8); glycine(-0.4); threonine (-0.7); serine (-0.8); tryptophan (-0.9); tyrosine(-1.3); proline (-1.6); histidine (-3.2); glutamate (-3.5); glutamine(-3.5); aspartate (-3.5); asparagine (-3.5); lysine (-3.9); and arginine(-4.5).

The importance of the hydropathic amino acid index in conferringinteractive biological function on a protein is generally understood inthe art (Kyte & Doolittle, 1982, incorporated herein by reference). Itis known that certain amino acids may be substituted for other aminoacids having a similar hydropathic index or score and still retain asimilar biological activity. In making changes based upon thehydropathic index, the substitution of amino acids whose hydropathicindices are within ±2 is preferred, those which are within ±1 areparticularly preferred, and those within ±0.5 are even more particularlypreferred.

It is also understood in the art that the substitution of like aminoacids can be made effectively on the basis of hydrophilicity. U.S. Pat.No. 4,554,101, incorporated herein by reference, states that thegreatest local average hydrophilicity of a protein, as governed by thehydrophilicity of its adjacent amino acids, correlates with itsimmunogenicity and antigenicity, i.e. with a biological property of theprotein. It is understood that an amino acid can be substituted foranother having a similar hydrophilicity value and still obtain abiologically equivalent protein.

As detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,101, the following hydrophilicityvalues have been assigned to amino acid residues: arginine (+3.0);lysine (+3.0); aspartate (+3.0±1); glutamate (+3.0±1); serine (+0.3);asparagine (+0.2); glutamine (+0.2); glycine (0); threonine (-0.4);proline (-0.5±1); alanine (-0.5); histidine (-0.5); cysteine (-1.0);methionine (-1.3); valine (-1.5); leucine (-1.8); isoleucine (-1.8);tyrosine (-2.3); phenylalanine (-2.5); tryptophan (-3.4).

In making changes based upon similar hydrophilicity values, thesubstitution of amino acids whose hydrophilicity values are within ±2 ispreferred, those which are within ±1 are particularly preferred, andthose within ±0.5 are even more particularly preferred.

While discussion has focused on functionally equivalent polypeptidesarising from amino acid changes, it will be appreciated that thesechanges may be effected by alteration of the encoding DNA; taking intoconsideration also that the genetic code is degenerate and that two ormore codons may code for the same amino acid.

Sequence Modification Techniques

Modifications to the E1A and LT peptides may be carried out usingtechniques such as site directed mutagenesis. Site-specific mutagenesisis a technique useful in the preparation of individual peptides, orbiologically functional equivalent proteins or peptides, throughspecific mutagenesis of the underlying DNA. The technique furtherprovides a ready ability to prepare and test sequence variants, forexample, incorporating one or more of the foregoing considerations, byintroducing one or more nucleotide sequence changes into the DNA.Site-specific mutagenesis allows the production of mutants through theuse of specific oligonucleotide sequences which encode the DNA sequenceof the desired mutation, as well as a sufficient number of adjacentnucleotides, to provide a primer sequence of sufficient size andsequence complexity to form a stable duplex on both sides of thedeletion junction being traversed. Typically, a primer of about 17 to 25nucleotides in length is preferred, with about 5 to 10 residues on bothsides of the junction of the sequence being altered.

In general, the technique of site-specific mutagenesis is well known inthe art as exemplified by publications (Adelman et al., 1983). As willbe appreciated, the technique typically employs a phage vector whichexists in both a single stranded and double stranded form. Typicalvectors useful in site-directed mutagenesis include vectors such as theM13 phage (Messing et al., 1981). These phage are readily commerciallyavailable and their use is generally well known to those skilled in theart. Double stranded plasmids are also routinely employed in sitedirected mutagenesis which eliminates the step of transferring the geneof interest from a plasmid to a phage.

In general, site-directed mutagenesis in accordance herewith isperformed by first obtaining a single-stranded vector or melting apartthe two strands of a double stranded vector which includes within itssequence a DNA sequence which encodes the E1A gene or the LT gene. Anoligonucleotide primer bearing the desired mutated sequence is prepared,generally synthetically, for example by the method of Crea et al.(1978). This primer is then annealed with the single-stranded vector,and subjected to DNA polymerizing enzymes such as E. coli polymerase IKlenow fragment, in order to complete the synthesis of themutation-bearing strand. Thus, a heteroduplex is formed wherein onestrand encodes the original non-mutated sequence and the second strandbears the desired mutation. This heteroduplex vector is then used totransform appropriate cells, such as E. coli cells, and clones areselected which include recombinant vectors bearing the mutated sequencearrangement.

Kalderon et al. (1984) report several mutagenic methods which haveproved useful in mutating the native LT gene. Specifically, Kalderon etal. teach deletion mutations by displacement-loop mutagenesis and by therandom insertion of EcoRI linkers into the LT gene. Further, pointmutation by deletion-loop mutagenesis is taught. The reference alsoteaches screening procedures for determining the success of suchmutations. The teachings of Kalderon et al. (1984) are incorporated byreference in this application.

The preparation of sequence variants of the selected gene usingsite-directed mutagenesis is provided as a means of producingpotentially useful E1A, LT, or other neu-suppressing species and is notmeant to be limiting as there are other ways in which sequence variantsof these peptides may be obtained. For example, recombinant vectorsencoding the desired genes may be treated with mutagenic agents toobtain sequence variants (see, e.g., a method described by Eichenlaub,1979) for the mutagenesis of plasmid DNA using hydroxylamine.

Other Structural Equivalents

In addition to the E1A and LT peptidyl compounds described herein, theinventors also contemplate that other sterically similar compounds maybe formulated to mimic the key portions of the peptide structure. Suchcompounds may be used in the same manner as the peptides of theinvention and hence are also functional equivalents. The generation of astructural functional equivalent may be achieved by the techniques ofmodelling and chemical design known to those of skill in the art. Itwill be understood that all such sterically similar constructs fallwithin the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B show E1A gene product effects on the neu promoter.

(1A) Transcriptional repression of neu promoter by E1A gene products.Rat-1 cells were transfected with 5 μg of the pNeu-EcoR1-CAT construct,which contains the CAT gene driven by neu oncogene promoter containing2.2-kb upstream DNA sequences. Lane 1, basal neu promoter activity (itsrelative CAT activity is defined as 100%); lanes 2-4, CAT activity aftercotransfection with 10 μg of carrier DNA pSP64 vector (102%, lane 2);E1A-expressing plasmid pE1A (34%, lane 3); pE1Apr, a plasmid containingonly the E1A promoter (98%, lane 4). The CAT activities of a reporterplasmid, RSV-CAT, containing the CAT gene under the control of RSV LTR(10%, lane 5) were not significantly changed by cotransfection of 10 μgof pE1A (98%, lane 6) or 20 μg of pE1A (96%, lane 7).

(1B) Effect of various adenovirus early genes on neu promoter activity.The pneuEcoRI-CAT was cotransfected with pSP64 vector or plasmidexpressing various adenovirus early genes, E1A, E1b, E2A, and E3, asindicated. The relative CAT activities are as follows: SP64, 100%; E1A,35%, E1B, 97%, E2A, 99%, E3, 102%. RSV-CAT was used as a positivecontrol.

FIGS. 2A-2E show transient expression from neu promoter withcotransfection with increasing amounts of pE1A (2A), pE1A-13S (2B),pE1A-12S (2C), and pE1Ad1346 (2D). A constant amount (5 μg) of thepneuEcoR1-CAT construct was cotransfected into Rat 1 cells with 5, 10,15, and 20 μg of the test constructs. The total amount of thetransfected DNA were kept constant by adding the appropriate amount ofcarrier DNA pSP64. The relative CAT activities without E1A (lanes 0 in2A-2D) are defined as 100%. The relative CAT activities with 5, 10, 15and 20 μg of test constructs are as follows: E1A, 68%, 35%, 26%, 17%;E1A-13S, 72%, 48%, 36%, 24%; E1A-12S, 66%, 46%, 28%, 21%; E1Ad1346,102%, 103%, 99%, 102%, (2E). Summary of the effects of different E1Amutants on transient expression from the neu promoter. Schematicstructures of the proteins encoded by different E1A mutants are shown onthe bar diagram. Hatched areas represent the conserved protein regionsof the E1A products. Bar diagrams are not drawn to scale.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show localization of E1A-responsive DNA element in theupstream region of neu promoter.

(3A) Schematic maps of the neu promoter 5' deletion constructs that werefused individually to the CAT gene to create the plasmids as indicatedby the names of the restriction enzymes used for generating theconstructs.

(3B) Level of expression of the CAT gene directed by each of thepromoter fragment constructs after transfection of 5 μg of the plasmidsinto Rat-1 cells with 10 μg of cotransfected pE1A (E) or carrier DNApSP64 (C). The names of restriction enzymes above each triplet assayrefer to the constructs indicated in the maps.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show derepression of neu by cotransfection of competingamounts of Stu I-Xho I neu promoter fragments.

(4A) Rat-1 cells were transfected with 5 μg of the pNeuEcoR1-CATplasmids giving basal neu promoter activity (lane 1); the repressed CATactivity after cotransfection with 5 μg of the pE1A is shown in lane 2.Plasmids pSP64/Stu-Xho containing the Stu I-Xho I neu promoter fragmentcloned in pSP64 were cotransfected with pneuEcoR1-CAT and pE1A. Lanes3-6 show the competitive effects of increasing amounts (5, 10, 15, and20 μg, respectively) of pSP64/Stu-Xho. Plasmids pSP64/R1-Xba containingthe EcoRI-Xbu I neu promoter fragment were also cotransfected withpneuEcoR1-CAT and pE1A. Lanes 7-9 show CAT activities from neu promoterby cotransfecting 5, 10, and 20 μg of pSP64/RI-Xba, respectively. Therelative CAT activities of lanes 1-9 are as follows: 100%, 32%, 27%,31%, 58%, 79%, 38%, 31%, 24%.

(4B) Immunoblot for p185 protein in the cell lysates of SK-BR-3 breastcancer cells transfected by pneuEcoRV-CAT. Seventy-five micrograms ofprotein from each sample was electrophoresed on 7% SDS/PAGE gels priorto transfer on nitrocellulose. Filters were blotted with the primaryantibody mAb-3. Lane 1, lysates of SK-BR-3 cells transfected with 5 μgof PE1A; lane 2, cotransfected with 5 μg E1A and 20 μg of pSP64/RI-XbaI;lane 3, cotransfected with 5 μg of E1A and 20 μg of pSP64/Stu-Xho; lane4, lysates of SK-BR-3 cells after mock transfection. The protein sizemarker is shown on the right. The arrow indicates the position of p185protein. The p185 protein bands were scanned by Bio-Rad videodensitometer model 620 to determined the relative p185 protein level.The p185 protein level in the mock transfection sample is defined as100% and the relative amounts of p185 proteins in lanes 1-3 are 57%,54%, and 89%, respectively.

FIG. 5 shows removal of the E1A-mediated repression of neu bycotransfection of a 20-mer oligonucleotide containing the consensussequence. Rat-1 cells were transfected with 3 μg of pneuEcoRV-CATplasmids, giving basal neu promoter activity (lane 1); CAT activityafter cotransfection with 10 μg of pE1A is shown in lane 4. Twomicrograms of the 20-mer double-stranded oligonucleotide containing theconsensus sequence (lane 2, Cons) was cotransfected with pneuEcoRV-CATand pE1A (molar ratio of oligomer:pNeuEcoRV-CAT=35:1), resulting insignificant derepression; cotransfection of 2 μg of a 22-mer randomnonhomologous oligonucleotide with pneuEcoRV-CAT and pE1A had nosignificant derepression effect (lane 3, None). The values for relativeCAT activity are the average of three studies. The upper strand sequenceof the synthetic 20-mer oligonucleotide is shown at the bottom; theproposed E1A-responding sequence is underlined.

FIGS. 6A-6D show E1A gene presence and protein production in cells.

(6A) Southern blot analysis of NIH3T3, B104-1-1 and their transfectantsusing an EcoRI-SstI E1A DNA probe. 10 μg of genomic DNA from theindicated cell lines were digested to completion with EcoRI+SstIrestriction endonucleases and subjected to electrophoresis on a 1%agarose gel. The DNAs were transferred to Nitran™ filter paper andhybridized with the E1A probe. The DNA markers are shown on the left.

(6B) Immunoblot analysis for E1A proteins in the cell lysates of theindicated cell lines. 50 μg of each sample were electrophoresed on 10%SDS-PAGE prior to transfer to nitrocellulose. Filters were incubatedwith the primary antibody M73 against E1A, obtained from Dr. L. S. Changof Ohio State University. The protein molecular weight marker and theposition of E1A proteins are shown on the right. 25 μg of Cell lysatefrom 293 cells was used as a positive control.

(6C) Immunoblot analysis for the neu encoded p185 protein in the celllysates of the indicated cell lines. The studies were performed asdescribed in section (6B) above. The primary antibody was mAB-3 againstp185, purchased from Oncogene Science Inc.

(6D) Southern blot analysis of the indicated cell lines using rat neuDNA probe. The studies were performed as described in section (6A)above. The DNAs were digested with Bam HI restriction endonuclease.

FIGS. 7A-7F show morphologic effects of E1A expression in.neu-transformed B104-1-1 cells: (7A) B104-1-1; (7B) B-E1Apr; (7C)N-E1A-1; (7D) B-E1A-1; (7E) B-E1A-2; (7F) B-E1A-3 (Magnification: X130).

FIGS. 8A and 8B show E1A effects on DNA synthesis. (8A) ³ H! ThymidineIncorporation of the indicated cell lines. 9×10³ cells were plated in 96well multiwell plates and cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle mediumsupplemented with 10% calf serum for 16, 40 and 64 hrs. Cell received a2 hr pulse of 1 μCi ³ H!-thymidine per well to label those that weresynthesizing DNA prior to harvest. Radioactivities of individual sampleswere counted by scintillation counter. Average cpm counts werecalculated from replicated samples.

(8B) Anchorage independent growth of E1A-transfected B104-1-1 and NIH3T3cells. 1×10³ cells were plated in 0.35% soft agar over a 0.7% agar lowerlayer. Colonies were counted after 4 weeks. A typical plate and the meanof triplicate samples plus or minus the standard error of the mean areshown for each group.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show the effects of a tumorigenicity study.

(9A) Summary of tumorigenicity of B104-1-1, NIH3T3 and theirtransfectant. 1×10⁵ viable cells were injected subcutaneously into rightand left flanks of female homozygous nu/nu mice, respectively. Tumorformation was scored at indicated days as presence or absence of avisible tumor mass. 16 days after injection, tumor volumes wereestimated as the product of tri-dimensional caliper measurements(longest surface length and width, and tumor thickness). N.D.: notdetectable at the time of evaluation.

(9B) A representative result of tumorigenicity study. From right toleft: the animals were injected with B104-1-1, B-E1A-2 or NIH3T3 cells18 days prior to the photographing data.

FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C1-10C4 show E1A inhibition of neu-transformedcells.

(10A) E1A gene products inhibited the cell motility of theneu-transformed 3T3 cells. N-E1A: NIH3T3 cells transfected with E1A;B-neo: B104-1-1 cells transfected with neomycin resistant gene; B-E1A-1to 5: five independent cell lines generated by transfecting E1A geneinto B104-1-1 cells. The motility assays were carried out by using atranswell unit with 5 μm pore size polycarbonate filter in 24 wellcluster plate (Costar). Lower compartment of the transwell contained 600μl of one of the chemoattractants: 20 μm fibronectin (FN) or 100 μm FNdissolved in DMEM/F12, or hepatic endothelial cell conditioned media(HSE), or DMEM/F12 medial only as negative control. The cells (3×10⁴/0.1 ml in DMEM/F12) were plated in the upper compartment and incubatedfor 6 hrs at 37° C. in a humidified 5% CO₂ atmosphere. After theincubation, the filters were fixed with 3% glutaraldehyde in PBS bufferand stained with Geimsa. ach sample was assayed in triplicate and cellmotility was measured by counting the number of cells that had migratedto the lower side of the filter. At least four HPFs were counted perfilter. The number of cells migrated to DMEM/F12 has been deducted fromeach sample to eliminate the background and all the assays were done intriplicates.

(10B) E1A gene products inhibited the invasiveness of theneu-transformed 3T3 cells. The assay of in vitro invasiveness was donebasically as described by Albini et al, 1987 and Repesh, 1989. Thebasement membrane preparation, matrigel, was purchased fromCollaborative Research, Inc. Filters in the transwell unit (same as usedin motility assay) were coated with 0.1 ml of 1:20 dilution of matrigelin DMDM/F12 media. Lower compartment contained 0.6 ml of HSE aschemoattractant or DMEM/F12 as negative control. The cells (5×10⁴ /0.1ml in DMEM/F12) were plated in upper compartment and incubated for 72hrs at 37° C. in a humidified 5% CO₂ atmosphere. Cells were fixed,stained and counted as described in 1.a. All the assays were done intriplicate and assays were repeated twice.

(10C) Gross appearance of lungs from the mice injected with B-neo cells(10C1), N-E1A cells (10C2), B-E1A-1 cells (10C3), and B-E1A-2 cells(10C4); E1A gene products inhibited the lung colonization ofneu-transformed cells. See legend for Table 2 for methodologicaldetails.

FIG. 11A-11B show that E1A suppresses neu-induced tumor formation andmetastasis in vivo in nude mice.

(11A) Top, animal injected with B104-1-1 cells, a neu oncogenetransformed NIH3T3 cell line; Bottom, animal injected with B-E1A2 cells,an E1A transfectant of B104-1-1. Photographs were taken 18 days afterinjection, and results are representative of other tumorigenicitystudies.

(11B) Left, gross appearance of lungs from mice injected with B104-1-1cells; Right, gross appearance of lungs from mice injected with the E1Atransfected cells, B-E1A2. Mice were inoculated with 1×10⁵ cells/0.1 mlin PBS via the lateral tail vein at day 0, and were sacrificed 21 daysafter injection. The numbers of lung tumor nodules were determinedfollowing infiltration with India ink, only those lung nodules greaterthan 1 mm in diameter were counted in the assay.

FIGS. 12A-12C show the molecular characterization of the ip1, E1A andip1.Efs transfectants described in Example IV.

(12A) immunoblot analysis of E1A proteins in the cell lysates of theindicated cell lines. Seventy-five mg of proteins from each sample weresubjected to electrophoresis on 10% sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel prior to transfer to nitrocellulose. Filterswere incubated with the primary antibody M73, which recognizes E1Aproteins. The position of the E1A proteins are indicated to the left ofA.

(12B) immunoblot analysis of the c-erbB-2/neu-encoded p185 proteins inthe cell lysates of the indicated cell lines. Seventy-five mg ofproteins from each sample were subjected to electrophoresis on 10%sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel prior to transfer tonitrocellulose. Filters were incubated with the primary antibodyc-neu-Ab-3 against p185. The position of the p185 proteins are indicatedto the left of B.

(12C) Southern blot analysis of DNAs from the ip1.E1A and ip1.Efstransfectants. Ten mg of genomic DNA from indicated cell probe. DNAmarkers are shown to the right.

FIGS. 13A-13C show the reduced growth rate of the ip1.E1A transfectantsversus control ip1.Efs cells, the decreased ³ H!thymidine Incorporationby the ip1.E1A transfectants versus control ip1.Efs cells, andsignificantly inhibited colony formation for the ip1.E1A transfectantsversus control ip1.Efs cells, respectively.

(13A) reduced growth rate of the ip1.E1A transfectants versus controlip1.Efs cells. The in vitro growth rates of the cell lines were assessedby measuring increases in cell number with the MTT assay (Alley et al.,1988). Cells (2×10³ /well) were plated in 96-well culture plates in 0.2ml of culture medium. A total of 5 plates (9 wells/cell line/plate) wereused. One of the plates was analyzed at 24-h intervals after theaddition of 40 μl MTT (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo.) stocksolution (1.25 mg MTT/ml of phosphate-buffered saline) to each well onthe plate. Cells were incubated at 37° C. for 2.5 h, the medium wasaspirated, and the cells were lysed in 100 μl of dimethyl sulfoxide.Conversion of MTT to formazan by metabolically viable cells wasmonitored by a Dynatech MR 5000 fluorescence microplate reader at awavelength of 450 nm. Results were analyzed by regression analysis. Eachstudy was repeated for each cell line at least twice.

(13B) decreased ³ H!thymidine incorporation by the ip1.E1A transfectantsversus control ip1.Efs cells. For this assay, 10 replicated cell sampleswere plated into 96-well plates at a density of 8×10³ cells/well inculture medium. ³ H!Thymidine (1 μCi) was added to each well at 24, 48,and 72 h, respectively, with continuous incubation after each additionfor 12 h at 37° C. Cells were harvested, and cellular DNA was bound tofiberglass filters. The radioactivity of each filter was counted with ascintillation counter. Average cpm were calculated from ten replicatesamples.

(13C) significantly inhibited colony formation for the ip1.E1Atransfectants versus control ip1.Efs cells (P<0.01). Soft agar assayswere performed as previously described (Matin et al., 1990). Cells(1×10³ cells/well) were plated in a 24-well plate in culture mediumcontaining 0.35% agarose (BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.) overlying a 0.7%agarose layer. The cells were then incubated at 37° C. for 5 weeks,after which the plates were stained with p-iodonitrotetrazolium violet(1 mg/ml) for 48 h at 37° C. Colonies greater than 100 μm were countedfor each dish and cell line. The numbers of soft agar colony are shownin the figure. Studies were repeated four times for each cell line.

FIGS. 14A and 14B show the E1A suppressed tumor formation byc-erbB2-/neu-overexpressing ovarian cancer cells and the longer survivalof mice given injections of E1A-expressing ip1.E1A cells versus micegiven injections of ip1.Efs human ovarian cancer cells.

(14A) E1A suppressed tumor formation by c-erbB2-/neu-overexpressingovarian cancer cells. Four- to 6-week-old athymic female homozygousnu/nu mice were purchased from the Animal Production Area, NationalCanter Institute-Frederick Cancer Research Facility (Frederick, Md.) orfrom Harlan Sprague Dawley, Inc., (Indianapolis, Ind.). The care and useof the animals was in accordance with institutional guidelines. Fortumorigenicity assays, cells in log-phase growth were trypsinized,washed twice with phosphate-buffered saline, and centrifuged at 250×g.The viable cells were counted; of those, 3×10⁶ cells in 0.1 ml ofphosphate-buffered saline were injected s.c. into both the right andleft flanks of female mice under aseptic conditions. Tumor volumes wereestimated as the product of three-dimensional caliper measurements(longest surface length and width; tumor thickness). The growth oftumors was monitored for a minimum of 80 days and a maximum of 160 days,as shown by the days indicated in the figure.

(14B) longer survival of mice given injections of E1A-expressing ip1.E1Acells versus mice given injections of ip1.Efs human ovarian cancer cells(P<0.01). To assess the formation of malignant ascites after i.p.injection, suspensions of cells (harvested as above) at concentrationsof 1×10⁶ in 0.2 ml of Hank's balanced salt solution were injected i.p.into individual female nu/nu mice. In two studies, totals of nine micefor the ip1.Efs line, eight mice for the ip1.E1A1 line, and nine micefore the ip1.E1A2 line were given injections. Mice were initiallyobserved twice a twice a week for signs of tumor development and thendaily when any or all of the following tumor symptoms appeared:abdominal bloating, loss of subcutaneous fat, hunched posture, anddecreased movement. Mice were killed when they appeared moribund or,judging from the inventors previous experience, would not survive morethan 24-48 h. Symptom-free mice were killed 120 days after injection.Autopsies were performed on all mice killed. Similar results wereobtained from the two studies, and results were combined for analysis.

FIGS. 15A-15C show expression of neu-encoded p185 and LT in B104-1-1cells stably transfected with plasmids encoding LT.

(15A) Immunoblotting for anti-p185 of whole cell lysates from B104-1-1cells stably transfected with LT: BTn16 (lane 1), BTn14 (lane 2), BEn5(lane 3) and NIH 3T3 (lane 4) cell lines. Following transfer tonitrocellulose, the blots were probed with monoclonal anti-p185 antibody(c-neu, Ab-3, Oncogene Science) followed by goat anti-mouse conjugatedto horse radish peroxidase. The blot was subsequently developed usinghorse radish peroxidase substrate and hydrogen peroxide.

(15B) Immunoblot for LT of whole cell lysates of the stabletransfectants. Blots were probed with anti-LT (SV 40 T-Ag, Ab-2 OncogeneScience) and then with 125I!-protein A. Washed and dried blots wereexposed for autoradiography. Lysates of BTn16, lane 1; BTn14, lane 2;BEn5, lane 3 and NIH 3T3 cell line, lane 4.

(15C) Southern blotting for genomic neu using 32P-labelled 0.4 and 0.8kb Bam H1 fragments (11) from neu cDNA probe to hybridize with Bam H1digested genomic DNA isolated from BTn16, lane 1; BTn14, lane 2; BEn5,lane 3 and NIH 3T3 cells, lane 4. The rat neu-specific bands areindicated by a triangle.

FIG. 16 shows the effect of LT on the upstream regulatory sequences ofneu and epidermal growth factor receptor. One mg of pNeuEcoR1CAT (lanes1 and 2) or pEGFrCAT (lanes 3 and 4) were cotransfected into NIH 3T3cells with 10 mg of plasmid encoding LT, pVU-0 (lanes 2 and 4) or withcontrol plasmid, pSV2E (lanes 1 and 3) which does not contain LT codingregion. Transfections and CAT assays were carried out as describedpreviously (Yu et al. 1992). CAT assays were standardized to equalprotein concentrations of the cell extracts. The study was repeated 4times and experimental error was within 13%. One representative set ofdata is shown.

FIG. 17 shows the effect of increasing concentrations of LT on theactivity of the regulatory sequences of neu. Two and 10 mg of pVU-0 werecotransfected with 1 mg of pneuEcoR1CAT into NIH 3T3 cells. The totalamount of DNA transfected was equal for all reactions, with the controlplasmid, pSV2E, being used to make up a final DNA concentration of 11mg. Lane 4, M, is control CAT assay of extracts from untransfected NIH3T3 cells. Representative data of 3 studies is shown; standard deviationwas 11%.

FIGS. 18A and 18B show data from serial deletions.

(18A) Series deletion-CAT constructs of the rat neu promoter.

(18B) Mapping of LT responding region in the neu upstream regulatorysequence using the neu deletion-CAT constructs. One mg of each of theneu deletion-CAT constructs were cotransfected into NIH 3T3 cells with10 mg of the LT-producing plasmid, pVU-0 (indicated by +) or 10 mg offiller plasmid, pSV2E (indicated by -): Set 1, pneuEcoR1CAT; set 2,pneuXba1CAT; set 3, pneuEcoRV2CAT; set 4, pneuEcoRVCAT; set 5,pneuStu1CAT; set 6, pneuXho1CAT; M, control CAT assay of extracts fromuntransfected NIH 3T3 cells. Each set (set 1, set 2, etc.) of CATreactions with (+) and without LT (-) were standardized to equal proteinconcentrations.

FIG. 19 shows gel shift assay demonstrating DNA-protein complex formedwith the Xhol-Nar1 region of the neu promoter. The ³² P-labelled DNA isthe 94 base pair Xhol-Nar1 fragment. Lanes 1 and 2, nuclear extract fromNIH 3T3 cells; lanes 3 and 4, nuclear extract from BTn 14 cell line.Lanes 2 and 4 contain approximately 250-fold unlabelledXhol-Nar1fragment as specific competitor. Lane 5, ³² P-labelledXhol-Nar1 fragment only. Incubation of probe (10⁵ cpm) with nuclearextracts (3 μg) were carried out as described (Dynlacht et al., 1991)and samples were electrophoresed through a native 4.5% polyacrylamidegel (80:1; acrylamide:bisacrylamide) containing 0.5×TBE (45 mM boricacid, 1 mM EDTA, pH 8) for 2.5 h at 40° C. F indicates free probe.

FIGS. 20A-20C show the effect of mutant LT on neu promoter activity.

(20A) Schematic diagram of LT showing Rb binding domain (shaded black).K1 encodes LT with single amino acid change (glu 107 to lys) in the Rbbinding domain of the 708 amino acid LT protein.

(20B) Activity of pneuXho1CAT (with control plasmid pSV2E) andinhibition of activity in the presence of wild type LT (WT), and mutantLT (K1). One mg pneuXho1CAT was cotransfected with 10 mg of fillerplasmid, pSV2E, or wild type LT (pVU-0) or mutant LT (pK1).

(20C) Effect of K1 on the transforming activity of activated neu. One mgof cNeu-104 was cotransfected with 2 mg of K1 and 0.1 mg of pSV2neo intoRat-1 cells. pSV2E was used as filler plasmid so that a final 5 mg DNAwas transfected into cells. Cells were split 1:4 48 hours aftertransfection and duplicate plates were subsequently grown in regularmedium (DMEM/F12 plus 10% calf serum) or regular medium supplementedwith 250 mg/mL G418. Foci and G418-resistant colonies were stained andcounted after 3-4 weeks. Results are expressed as ratio of foci to thatof G418-resistant colonies from each transfection to correct fortransfection efficiency. The number of foci from transfecting cNeu-104alone was set at 100%.

FIG. 21 shows liposome-deviated direct gene transfer techniques allowthe delivery of the E1A gene to neu-overexpressing SK-OV-3 human ovariancancer cell. The three mice were each injected with SK-OV-3 cells. Fivedays later, the mice were injected with (1) E1A DNA only, (2) complex ofliposome and Efs DNA (an E1A frame shift mutant that does not causeactive E1A to be produced), and (3) complex of liposome and E1A DNA.Booster injections of the same compositions were given each respectivemouse on a weekly basis for the remainder of the mouse's life. Mouse 1developed extensive bloody ascites and died 65 days after SK-OV-3injection. Mouse 2 developed extensive blood ascites and a large tumorand died 76 days after the injection of SK-OV-3 cells. Mouse 3 appearedhealthy and was alive 160 days after SK-OV-3 injection.

FIG. 22 shows the infection efficiency of adenovirus in ovarian cancerSK-OV-3(i.p.). SK-OV-3(i.p.) in 6 well plates (2.5×10⁵ /well) wereinfected once by Ad.RSVβgal at different virus/tumor cell ratios. Twodays later, cells were fixed and stained with X-gal. Infectionefficiency=No. of positive cells/No. of total cells X 100%.

FIG. 23 shows a growth curve of SK-OV-3(i.p.) after treatment by Ad.E1Ain vitro. SK-OV-3(i.p.) in 12 well plates (10⁴ /well) were infected onceby 2×10⁵ adenovirus and cell growth was followed for 7 days.

FIG. 24 shows colony formation in soft agarose. SK-OV-3(i.p.) cells wereinfected once with adenovirus at a virus/tumor ratio of 20/1. Aliquotsof 5×10⁴ cells were mixed with 0.35% agarose in DMEM medium and platedover a base layer of 0.7% agarose. Culture medium was allowed to hardenin 6 well plates (n=3). Colonies were stained and counted about 6 weekslater.

FIG. 25 shows the Ad. E1A therapeutic effect on ovarian cancerSK-OV-3(i.p.) SK-OV-3(i.p.) (10⁶ /mouse) were injected i.p. in femalenu/nu mice. Five days later, mice were given i.p. injection of 0.1 ml ofviral solution (titer: 2×10⁹ PFU/ml) once/day for three days, thenonce/week for 4.5 months. The responses and survival rate were observedfor more than one-half year (n=5).

FIGS. 26A and 26B show in vivo Ad.RSVβgal-mediated transfer of the lacZgene to intraperitoneal SK-OV-3(i.p.), 26A; and to intratracheal H820,26B.

(26A) Mice were administered intraperitoneal SK-OV-3(i.p.), two monthslater after tumor development, Ad.RSVβgal was administeredintraperitoneally. Tumor and organs were evaluated for the presence ofβ-gal using X-gal. The lacZ gene was localized in tumor cells and onlyslight β-gal activity was detected in normal organs.

(26B) Mice were administered intratracheally H820. Two months later,after tumor development, AD.RSVβgal was administered intravenously.Tumor and organs were evaluated for the presence of β-gal using X-gal.The lacZ gene was localized in tumor cells and only slight β-galactivity was detected in some normal organs.

FIG. 27 shows the survival of mice bearing ovarian cancer 2774 aftertreatment by Ad.E1A. Human ovarian cancer cell line 2774 which has lowlevel expression of HER-2/neu was injected i.p. into nu/nu mice (5×10⁵/mouse). Five days later, mice were given i.p. injection of 0.1 ml ofviral solution (titer: 2×10⁹ /ml) once/day for three days, thenonce/week for 4.5 months. The responses and survival rate were observed.AD.E1A(+) did not have significant therapeutic effect in 2774. Analysisof the results and the data of SK-OV-3(i.p.) which has high expressionlevel of HER-2/neu indicate that AD.E1A(+) can specifically inhibit thegrowth of tumor which has high expression level of HER-2/neu.

FIGS. 28A-28C show a histoimmunochemical analysis of representativehistological sections of treated and control mice.

(28A) Histological section from intraperitoneal SK-OV-3(i.p.) stainedwith hematoxylin and eosin.

(28B) Expression level of HER-2/neu P185 protein: stained by polyclonalantibody against P185 with ABC alkaline phosphatase substrate kit.Positive: red color.

(28C) Expression of AD.E1A protein: stained by monoclonal antibodyagainst AD.E1A with ABC ACE substrate kit for horseradish peroxides.Positive: dark red color. Ad.E1A protein was detected in tumor tissuetreated by Ad.E1A(+) in vivo. The expression level of HER-2/neu P185 wasgreatly inhibited in treated mouse tumor tissue.

FIGS. 29A-29C show representative mediastinal blocks of treated andcontrol mice, see Table 3 for details. Arrow: Tumor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The neu oncogene is a transforming gene originally identified from ratneuro/glioblastomas (Shih et al., 1981). Subsequently, both theactivated neu oncogene and its normal cellular counterpart, the normalneu gene, were cloned from rat and human libraries (Bargmann et al.,1986; Coussens et al., 1985; Hung et al., 1986; Yamamoto et al., 1986).The neu gene encodes a 185-KDa transmembrane protein (p185) which isrelated to, but distinct from the epidermal growth factor receptor(EGF-r). The neu encoded p185 and EGF-r have identical gross structuralorganization including ligand-binding, transmembrane and intracellularkinase domains and also share extensive sequence homology,specifically, >80% of the amino acids in the tyrosine kinase domain areidentical. Recently, the ligand for the neu-encoded p185 protein hasbeen functionally identified in rat cells and isolated from human breastcancer cells, which will facilitate the better understanding of thefunction of the neu-encoded p185 protein in normal and malignant cellgrowth and development (Lupu et al., 1990; Yarden et al., 1989).

The activated neu oncogene contains a single amino acid substitution inthe transmembrane domain and possesses an increased tyrosine kinaseactivity when compared to its normal counterpart. Furthermore, it hasdemonstrated that amplification of the neu protooncogene facilitatesoncogenic activation by a single point mutation (Hung et al., 1989). Thehuman homologue of the rat neu oncogene, also named as HER-2 or c-erbB2,has been shown to be amplified/overexpressed in 25-30% of human primarybreast cancers and ovarian cancers (Hung et al., 1988; Slamon et al.,1987). Breast cancer patients with neu overexpression show asignificantly lower overall survival rate and a shorter time to relapsethan those patients without neu overexpression, suggesting that neuoverexpression may be used as a prognostic factor (Id.).Amplification/overexpression of the human neu gene has also been shownto correlate with the number of axillary lymph nodes positive formetastasis in breast cancer patients (Id.). These studies stronglysuggest that the neu oncogene may play an important role in malignanttransformation and metastasis.

A. EXAMPLES OF NEU SUPPRESSION WITH E1A

The primary function of the adenovirus E1A gene is to activate otheradenoviral genes during a permissive viral infection by modifying thehost cell transcriptional apparatus, thereby resulting in host cellimmortalization of transformation by the whole adenoviral early region(Berk et al., 1986). Although both transcriptional activation andtranscriptional repression of non-adenoviral genes by the E1A proteinshave been reported (Borrelli et al., 1984; Hen et al., 1985; Lillie etal., 1989; Sassome-Lorsi et al., 1987; Stein et al., 1987), theirfunctional significance and physiological impact is unclear in manycases. Interestingly, it has been shown that exogenously added E1A genecan reduce the metastatic potential of ras transformed rat embryofibroblasts (REF) cells by activating the cellular nm23 gene which is alately cloned and characterized cellular metastatic suppressor gene(Pozzaati et al., 1988). Additionally, the transfected E1A gene has beenshown to repress secreted protease gene expression at thetranscriptional level and inhibits metastasis of human tumor cells(Liotta, 1989).

Recently, the present inventors have studied the effects of the E1A geneproducts on the promoter activity of the neu gene and found that E1Aproteins can repress the expression of both human and rat neu oncogeneat the transcriptional level. Since both the neu gene and the E1A geneare well-known transforming oncogenes, these findings raised aninteresting question: Is it possible that the E1A proteins may act astransformation suppressor for the neu-transformed cells viatranscriptional repression?

To address this question, the inventors undertook to develop abiological functional assay system in which the effects of E1A could bestudied. The E1A gene was introduced into the neu transformed B104-1-1cells to generate a derivative that stably express the E1A geneproducts, these cells were termed B-E1A cells. The transformedphenotypes of the parental neu-transformed B104-1-1 cell line and theB-E1A cell lines could then be compared following injection of each celltype into nude mice. The findings dramatically demonstrated that the E1Agene products can act as suppressors of neu oncogene-mediated celltransformation and metastasis.

The Examples which follow set forth studies wherein the inventorsdemonstrate the ability of the E1A gene to suppress neu gene expression(Example I), neu gene-mediated tumorigenicity (Example II), neugene-mediated metastasis (Example III), to suppress c-erbB-2/neuexpression in human ovarian carcinoma (Example IV), and gene therapywith E1A (Example VIII). Examples V and VI demonstrate suppression ofneu with LT antigen. While these studies are believed to be exemplary ofthe invention, it will be appreciated by those of skill in the art thatmany modifications and alterations may be made in these embodimentswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

EXAMPLE I Transcriptional Repression of the neu Protooncogene byAdenovirus 5 E1A Gene Products

This Example relates to studies conducted by the inventors whichdemonstrate that the adenovirus E1A 12S and 13S products are effectivein repressing the transcriptional activity of the neu promoter. Inparticular, it is demonstrated that the conserved region 2 (CR2) of theE1A proteins are required for repression. Moreover, these studiesindicated that a cis-acting DNA element in the upstream region of theneu promoter is responsible for the trans inhibition of the promoter bythe E1A gene products.

1. Materials and Methods

a. Plasmids

The recombinants used in this study have been described. pE1A (Chang etal., 1989: Hearing et al., 1985) is a plasmid expressing only the E1Aregion gene; pE1A12S and pE1A13S (Hearing et al., 1985) express 12S E1Aprotein and 13S E1A protein, respectively; pE1A-d1343 (Hearing et al.,1985) contains a 2-base-pair (bp) frameshift deletion in the E1A codingsequences (adenovirus nucleotide sequence positions 621 and 622);pE1A-d1346 (Hearing et al., 1985) contains an in-frame deletion ofnucleotides 859-907 (48 bp), resulting in the deletion of 16 amino acidsinside the CR2 of the E1A proteins; pE1Apr contains only the E1Apromoter (-499 to +113 relative to the E1A cap site); pE2A-CAT (Chung etal., 1989) is a reporter plasmid containing E2 early promoter fused withthe chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene; pRSV-CAT is areporter plasmid containing the CAT gene under the control of the Roussarcoma virus (RSV) long terminal repeat (LTR); pE1B, pE2, and pE3 areplasmids expressing E1B, E2, and E3 genes, respectively. pneuEcoR1-CATcontains the 2.2-kilobase (kb) rat neu promoter and upstream sequenceslinked to the CAT gene. The deletion mutant of the neu promoter used inthis study are described in the legends to FIG. 3 and 4A. pRSV-β-galcontains the RSV LTR linked to β-galactosidase gene used as an internalcontrol for transfection efficiency.

b. Cell Cultures

Cell cultures were performed as described (Hung et al., 1989; Matin, etal., 1984). The Rat-1 and SK-BR-3 cells were grown in dulbecco'smodified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% calf serum andfetal calf serum, respectively.

C. DNA Transfection

All transfections were carried out with the calcium phosphateprecipitation technique of Graham and Van der EB as modified by Andersonet al. (Hung et al., 1989; Anderson et al., 1979; Ausubel et al., 1987).In each transfection, 8×10⁵ Rat-1 cells or 2×10⁶ SK-BR-3 cells (2×10 cmdishes) were seeded 24 hr before transfection. Total transfection DNAwas kept constant (maximum, 30 μg) among different samples in the sameexperiment by adding approximate amounts of carrier DNA (pSP64).

d. CAT Assays

Cell extracts were prepared 40 hr after transfection. Portions of celllysates were assayed for β-galactosidase activity from the cotransfectedpRSV-β-gal plasmid. All CAT assays (Gorman et al., 1982) were normalizedto the internal transfection efficiency control. The CAT assay monitorsacetylation of ¹⁴ C!chloramphenicol in cell extracts; ¹⁴C!chloramphenicol and its products are separated by thin-layerchromatography (TLC) and visualized by autoradiography. Individual spotson TLC paper were cut, their radioactivities were assayed by liquidscintillation spectrometry, and the relative CAT activities werecalculated accordingly. Each experiment has been reproducibly repeatedat least three times and a representative of several studies is shown.

e. Immunoblot

SK-BR-3 cell lysates were made 40 hr after transfection and immunoblotswere performed as described (Matin et al., 1984). The mAB-3 monoclonalantibody against the human neu gene product--p185 protein--was purchasedfrom Oncogene Science.

2. Results

a. Transcriptional Repression of neu by the Adenovirus 5(AD5) E1AProducts

A DNA segment of 2.2 kb containing the neu promoter and upstreamsequences was fused with the CAT expression vector to generate thepneuEcoR1-CAT plasmid. In transient-expression assays using Rat-1 cells(FIG. 1A), a cotransfection of pneuEcoR1-CAT with pE1A, a plasmidexpressing the E1A gene, led to a significant decrease of CAT activity.Cotransfection with pSP64, a plasmid vector, had no effect on CATactivity. To rule out the possibility that decreased transcription fromneu promoters could be due to the titration of cellular transcriptionfactors by the cotransfected E1A promoter, a deletion mutant, pE1Apr,which contains only the E1A promoter, was cotransfected withpneuEcoR1-CAT. No effect on CAT activity was observed. A reporterplasmid containing the CAT gene under the control of the RSV LTR was notE1A responsive, indicating that decreased CAT expression was not due toa general decrease of transcription by E1A.

In parallel studies, stimulation of transcription from the E2Atranscription unit by the E1A products was assayed by cotransfectingpE1A and pE2A-CAT (CAT gene driven by E2 early promoter). The resultsshowed that repression of neu and transactivation of E2A promoter occurin the same range of pE1A concentration. To see if other adenovirusearly genes can repress the neu promoter, plasmids expressing the earlygenes of adenovirus individually were cotransfected with pneuEcoR1-CAT(FIG. 1B). No change in CAT activity was observed with E1B, E2, or E3alone, indicating the among these early genes of adenovirus, only theE1A gene could function as a repressor of the neu promoter.

b. Repression of neu Is E1A Concentration Dependent and Requires the E1AConserved Region 2.

To further study the interactions of E1A genes products with the neupromoter, increasing amounts of pE1A were cotransfected withpneuEcoR1-CAT in ratios of 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1 (FIG. 2A). Inhibitionof the gene expression directed by the neu promoter was found to bedependent on pE1A concentration, and 50% repression could be observed atas low as a 1:1 ratio of pE1A:pneuEcoR1-CAT.

The Ad5 E1A gene produces two major spliced products, the 12S and 13SmRNAs, that encode proteins 243 and 289 amino acids long, respectively(Moran et al., 1987). To determine which E1A gene product wasresponsible for the observed repression, the same studies were performedwith recombinant plasmids expressing either 12S or 13S E1A gene product(pE1A-12S and pE1A-13S). As shown in FIG. 2B and C, both the 12S and 13Sproducts were effective at repressing neu transcription in aconcentration-dependent manner.

The E1A gene products contain three highly conserved regions; CR1, CR2,and CR3 (Moran et al., 1987; Van Dam et al., 1989). CR1 and CR2 exist inthe 12S and 13S, whereas CR3 is unique to the 13S product. Since 12Sitself can repress neu efficiently, the inventors reasoned that the CR3is dispensable for transcriptional repression of neu by E1A.

To further localize whether the CR1 or the CR2 in the E1A protein wasrequired for efficient repression of neu, parallel studies wereperformed using deletion mutants pE1Ad1343 and pE1Ad1346 (Hearing etal., 1985). The pE1Ad1343 mutant contains a 2-bp deletion in the E1Acoding sequence, resulting in a frame shift in all three conservedregions of the E1A products and leaving only the N-terminal 40 aminoacids intact. No effect on CAT activity was observed when pE1Ad1343mutant was cotransfected with pneuEcoR1-CAT. The pE1Ad1346 mutantcontaining an in-frame deletion, which removed 16 amino acids within theCR2 but reserved the CR1, failed to express neu transcription (FIG. 2D).The inventors concluded that the CR2 of E1A gene products is requiredfor efficient transcriptional repression of neu (FIG. 2E).

C. Localization of Target DNA Element in the neu Promoter Responding toE1A Repression

To localize the DNA element in the neu promoter that mediates thetranscriptional repression by the E1A products, a series of 5' deletionconstructs containing portions of the neu promoter linked to afunctional CAT gene were cotransfected with pE1A into Rat-1cells (FIG.3A). The transient expression of the CAT gene driven by each of thesepromoter fragments after transfection with control plasmid vector pSP64or with pE1A in a ratio of 1:2 is shown in FIG. 3B. Only thepneuXhoI-CAT containing the smallest promoter fragment was not repressedby E1A. Clearly the activity of a site within the Stu I-Xho Irestriction fragment is sensitive to E1A repression. This Stu I-Xho Ifragment is sensitive to E1A repression. This Stu I-Xho I fragment islocated between -198 and -59 with respect to the transcriptional startsite of neu. The inventors concluded that the target DNA elementresponding to E1A repression resides inside this 139-bp Stu I-Xho Ifragment.

d. Evidence for the Involvement of Trans-Acting Factor(s)

To examine whether this repression by the E1A products is a trans-actingprocess, the inventors attempted to remove the repression bycotransfecting a third recombinant, pSP64/Stu-Xho, containing only theStu I-Xho I restriction fragment cloned in pSP64. Increasing amounts ofpSP64/Stu-Xho, in cotransfections in which transcription ofpneuEcoR1-CAT was repressed by pE1A, relieved the repression of neutranscription in a concentration-dependent manner (FIG. 4A). Incontrast, no derepression was observed when pSP64/RI-Xba containing theEcoRI-XBA I restriction fragment cloned in pSP64 was cotransfected. Thederepression was effective at a 4:1 ratio of pSP64/Stu-Xho:pneuEcoR1-CAT(FIG. 4A, lane 6), indicating that the Stu I-Xho I fragment canefficiently compete with the neu promoter for the transcriptionfactor(s) involved in the repression of neu by E1A. These resultsconfirm that the target for the E1A repression in the neu promoter is acis DNA element within the Stu I-Xho I fragment of this promoter.Furthermore, this repression of transcription may involve an interactionbetween the DNA element and either the E1A products or some cellulartranscription factors(s) interacting with or induced by the E1Aproducts.

e. Repression of Human neu Expression in SK-BR-3 Cells

Comparison of the Stu I-Xho I fragment of rat neu promoter sequence withits counterpart sequence in human neu promoter (Tal et al., 1982)reveals >86% homology. It was suspected by the inventors that the humanneu gene might also be repressed by E1A at transcriptional level by wayof similar mechanisms. If this is the case, cotransfection of the StuI-Xho I fragment of rat neu promoter might be able to relieve therepression of human neu incurred by E1A.

To test this possibility, cotransfection studies were carried out byusing as recipient cells human breast cancer cell line Sk-Br-3, which isknown to overexpress human neu mRNA and p185 proteins (Kraus et al.,1987). Immunoblotting studies with SK-BR-3 cell lysates showed that theexpression of human neu gene products, the p185 protein, was reduced byintroduction of E1A (FIG. 4B, compare lane 1 with lane 4).Cotransfection of pSP64/R1-Xba plasmids with pE1A at a 4:1 ratio wasineffective removing the repression of p185 expression by E1A, whereascotransfection of pSP64/Stu-Xho with pE1A at the same ratio relieved therepression by E1A.

It is known that the maximum efficiency of transient transfection canreach only 50% (Chen et al., 1988); the other 50% of nontransfectedSk-Br-3 cells should still produce high levels of p185 proteins, whichcan result in high background in the E1A-mediated repression of p185.Therefore, the repression effect on the endogenous neu-encoded p185 bytransiently transfected E1A in the immunoblotting assay was not asdramatic as that observed in CAT assays. However, the small differencewas detected reproducibly. The best interpretation of the results isthat E1A can repress human neu promoter at transcriptional level bytargeting at the cis-acting DNA element in human neu promotercorresponding to the Stu I-Xho I fragment of rat neu promoter.

f. The Sequence TGGAATG is an Important Site for the E1A-MediatedRepression

E1A has been reported to repress enhancer mediated transcriptionactivation of simian virus 40 (Borrell et al., 1984), polyomavirus(Velcich et al., 1986), immunoglobulin heavy chain (Hen et al., 1985),and insulin genes (Stein et al., 1987). Comparison of the enhancersequences of these genes reveals a consensus sequence (shown overleaf),which is likely to be the core sequence of the E1A-responding element.##STR1## However, there has been no experimental evidence to supportthis notion. A sequence, TGGAATG, that matches the consensus sequencehas been fund in the Stu 1-Xho 1 E1A-responding element of the rat neupromoter. An identical sequence also exists in the corresponding regionof the human neu promoter (Tal et al., 1987). It is thereforeconceivable that the sequence TGGAATG may be an important targetsequence for the E1A-induced repression.

To investigate this possibility, a 20-mer oligonucleotide from the ratneu promoter containing the sequence TGGAATG was synthesized (FIG. 5).This oligonucleotide efficiently competed with the neu promoter for thetranscriptional factors(s) involved in the repression of neu by E1A,resulting in a derepression effect (FIG. 5, lane 2), whereas a 22-merrandom nonhomologous oligonucleotide had no derepression effect (FIG. 5,lane 3). These data provide experimental evidence that the 20-meroligonucleotide harbors a critical sequence required for the E1A-inducedinhibition. Since the sequence TGGAATG within this 20-meroligonucleotide resembles the consensus sequence in the enhancersequences of other genes that can be repressed by E1A, it is likely thatthis 7-bp sequence is the critical sequence that is mediating the E1Aeffect.

3. Discussion

The foregoing results show that in a cotransfection system, the E1A geneproducts repressed the neu expression at the transcriptional level. Itis further demonstrated that the repressive effect on neu expression islost in E1A products when part of the CR2 (amino acids 120-136) isdeleted. Notably, a structure motif in this deleted part of theadenoviral E1A CR2 region is shared among the papovaviral large tumorantigens, the v- and c-myc oncoproteins, the E7 transforming proteins ofhuman papilloma viruses, and the yeast mitotic regulator DCD25 geneproduct (Figge et al., 1988). This region encoding the shared motif isalso required by E1A, simian virus 40 large tumor antigen, and humanpapilloma viruses 16 E7 for their specific binding to the humanretinoblastoma gene product, RB protein (Whyte et al., 1988; Whyte etal., 1989).

These studies further elucidate the oligonucleotide sequence mediatingE1A-induced repression in the upstream region of neu promoter. Thesequence TGGAATG is perfectly conserved between rat and human neupromoter, which is indicative of functional importance. In addition,this sequence matches the consensus sequence of other genes that canalso be repressed by E1A at transcriptional level. Taken together, thesefindings suggest that there may be common mechanisms involved in thistype of E1A-mediated repression. It has been proposed that E1A may forma complex with cellular transcription factor(s) and thereby modulate thespecific binding of the transcription factor(s) to enhancer elementsthat are important for transcription (Mitchell et al., 1989).Identification of the defined DNA sequences responsible for theE1A-mediated inhibition of neu transcription will allow us to identifythe transcription factor(s) involved in this process.

The neu protooncogene is notably amplified in patients with metastaticbreast cancer. Expression of the E1A gene can inhibit experimentalmetastasis of ras oncogene-transformed rat embryo cells. Here, it isshown that neu transcription can be repressed by E1A products in anestablished rat embryo fibroblast cell line, Rat-1. Furthermore, theinventors have found that in SK-BR-3 human breast cancer cellsexpression of the p185 protein, the human neu gene product, was reducedby introduction of E1A gene. The derepression effect observed in thecotransfection experiment with the Stu 1-Xho 1 fragment has demonstratedthat this reduction of p185 proteins is likely due to the similartranscriptional repression mechanisms.

EXAMPLE II Adenovirus-5 E1A Gene Products Act as a TransformationSuppressor of Neu Oncogene

In Example I, transcription of the neu protooncogene was shown to bestrongly repressed by adenovirus-5 E1A gene products through the use ofa transient transfection assay. In the present Example, the E1A gene hasbeen stably introduced into the neu-transformed B104-1-1 cells, todemonstrate that E1A-mediated neu repression can suppress neu-mediatedtransforming activity. In these studies, cells that expressed E1Aproducts possessed reduced transforming and tumorigenic activity, asevidenced using standard assays for each. These results demonstratedthat E1A gene products can act negatively to suppress the transformingphenotype of the neu oncogene, and is believed to be the first exampleof a gene, i.e., the E1A gene, that can act in one setting as atransforming oncogene, and in another as a transforming suppressor gene.

The B104-1-1 cell line, an NIH3T3 transfectant that has approximately10-20 copies of mutation-activated genomic neu oncogene has been shownto be highly transforming and tumorigenic (Bargmann et al., 1986; Sternet al., 1986). For the present studies, B104-1-1 cells and controlNIH3T3 cells were transfected with either E1A plasmids expressingadenovirus-5 E1A gene, (pE1A), or a derivative plasmid containing onlythe E1A promoter without the E1A coding sequence (pE1Apr). Cells werecotransfected with pSV2neo plasmids carrying a neomycin resistant markergene (Southern et al., 1982).

The transfections were carried out with the modified calcium phosphateprecipitation procedure of Chen and Okayama (1988). In eachtransfection, 5×10⁵ B104-1-1 cells or NIH3T3 cells (2×10 cm dishes) wereseeded 24 h before transfection. The cells were transfected with either10 μg of the E1A expressing pE1A plasmas DNA or its derivative pE1Aprplasmid DNA, along with 1 μg of pSV2-neo plasmid DNA (Southern et al.,1982). Approximately 14 h post-transfection, cells were washed andcultured in fresh medium for 24 h and split at a 1:10 ratio. The cellswere then grown in selection medium containing 500 μg/ml of G418 for 2-3weeks and individual G418 resistant colonies were cloned using cloningrings and expanded to mass culture.

Three kinds of stable transfectants were thus established: (1) B-E1Atransfectants: B104-1-1 transfectants harboring the E1A gene; (2)B-E1Apr transfectants: B104-1-1 transfectants containing E1A promotersequence, which is used as a control cell line in this study; and (3)N-E1A transfectants: NIH3T3 cells transfected with the E1A gene.

Cells cultures were performed as described previously (Hung et al.,1989; Matin et al., 1989). The B104-1-1 cell line and NIH3T3 cell linewere grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplementedwith 10% calf serum in a humidified atmosphere at 5% CO² at 37° C. TheB-E1A transfectants and N-E1A transfectants were grown under the samecondition with addition of G418 (500 μg/ml) into the culture media.

FIG. 6 shows the molecular characterization of the representative stabletransfectants used in this study, employing both Southern blot andimmunoblot analyses. Southern blot analyses were performed essentiallyby published techniques as previously described (Zhang et al., 1989).Genomic DNAs extracted from cultured cells were digested overnight at37° C. with a 2-fold excess of a restriction endonuclease (either EcoR1,Sst1, or BamH1). Ten μg of each sample were then resolved byelectrophoresis on a 1% agarose gel and transferred to Nytran membrane(Schleicher & Schuell, Keen, N.H.) using a 10×SSC (1.5 NaCl, 0.15Msodium citrate). The blotted DNA were hybridized under high stringentconditions (68° C.) with ³² P! radioactive probe (1-5×10⁸ CPM μg⁻¹)labeled by using Random Primed DNA Labeling Kit (Boehringer MannheimBiochemicals, Indianapolis, Ind.). The blots were washed twice for 15min each in 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS at room temperature, and then twice for 30min each in 0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 68° C. with constant agitation. Thefilters were dried at room temperature and then exposed to Kodak X-OMAT™AR film at -80° C. for 1 to 3 days.

Immunoblot analysis were performed basically by published techniques(Towbin et al., 1979) as previously described (Matin et al., 1990).Confluent cells growing in 10 cm plates were lysed with RIPA-B buffer(20 mM sodium phosphate, pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl, 5 mM EDTA, 1% Triton, 10μg/ml Aprotinin, 2 mM PMSF, 10 μg/ml Leupeptin and 4 mM iodoacetic acid)and then centrifuged at 10×g for 20 min at 4° C. The proteinconcentration of the supernatants was determined by Bio-Rad proteinassay (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Richmond, Calif.). 50 μg of each samplewere subjected to SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (10%) andtransferred to nitrocellulose. The nitrocellulose filters were treatedwith 3% nonfat dry milk in TPBS buffer (0.05% Tween-20, 138 mM NaCl, 2.7mM KCl, 4.3 mM Na2HPO4.7H₂ O and 1.4 mM KH₂ PO4) for 1 h at roomtemperature, followed by an overnight incubation at 4° C. with primarymonoclonal antibodies M73 against the E1A proteins (a gift of Dr. L. S.Chang, Ohio State Univ.) or mAb-3 against the neu encoded p185 protein(purchased from Oncogene Science Inc., Manhasset, N.Y.). After three 10min washes with TPBS buffer, the nitrocellulose was then incubated for 1h at room temperature with 1:1000 dilution of horseradishperoxidase-conjugated goat anti-mouse immunoglobulin (Bio-RadLaboratories). The nitrocellulose filters were washed 3 times in TPBSbuffer and were subjected to color developing reaction with horseradishperoxidase substrate (Kirkegaard & Perry Laboratories, Inc.,Gaithersburg, Md.).

To assure that the exogenous E1A gene or E1A promoter DNA had integratedinto the genome of the transfectants, DNA blot analysis with the E1Aprobe was performed and the results confirmed the integration oftransfected foreign DNA (FIG. 6A). Noticeably, the three B-E1Atransfectants studied (B-E1A-1, B-E1A-2 and B-E1A-3) acquired differentcopy numbers of the E1A gene. Immunoblot detection of E1A furtherconfirmed that the B-E1A and N-E1A transfectants actually produced E1Aproteins and the E1A protein levels in these transfectants are lowerthan that in the 293 cell line, an established cell line of primaryhuman embryonal kidney transformed by adenovirus DNA. (FIG. 6B).

To examine if expression of E1A can inhibit neu expression, immunoblotanalysis for the neu-encoded p185 protein was also performed and thep185 proteins were virtually undetectable in all the transfectants usinghorse radish peroxidase detection method (FIG. 6C). However, slightlyhigher levels of p185 proteins could be detected in B-E1A-3 than thosein B-E1A-1 and B-E1A-2 when the more sensitive ¹²⁵ I-protein-A detectionmethod was used. Since p185 proteins were barely detectable in B-E1Atransfectants, DNA blot analysis for rat neu gene was conducted to makesure that the neu gene was not lost. As shown in FIG. 6D, theincorporation of E1A gene into the genome did not alter the neu gene atthe DNA level.

Among the three B-E1A transfectants, B-E1A-2 and B-E1A-3 had levels ofthe neu gene that were comparable to those of the parental B104-1-1 cellline; while B-E1A-1 appeared to have a lower level neu gene. This may bedue to partial loss of the neu gene in this line during theestablishment of this transfected cell line. The three B-E1Atransfectants shown in FIG. 6 were chosen for further transformationassay because they represented three different subtypes of B-E1Atransfectants: (1) B-E1A-1 had fewer copies of neu gene compared toB104-1-1 and more copies of E1A gene; (2) B-E1A-2 retained the samelevel of neu as B104-1-1 and high levels of E1A gene; (3) B-E1A-3contained the same amount of neu as B104-1-1, but a low quantity of theE1A gene.

The transforming phenotype of the neu-transformed cells usually includesa transformed morphology, non-contact-inhibited growth pattern,increased DNA synthesis rate, anchorage-independent growth and theability to induce tumors in nu/nu mice. To determine the effect of E1Aexpression on the transforming ability of neu-transformed B104-1-1cells, the B-E1A transfectants as well as the control cell lines wereassayed for all the above mentioned transforming parameters usingstandard protocols.

The results of these studies demonstrated that the highly transformedmorphology of B104-1-1 cells was essentially unchanged after pE1Aprtransfection but was markedly altered by pE1A transfection (FIG. 7). TheB-E1A transfectants exhibit non-transformed flattened morphology and acontact-inhibited growth pattern (FIG. 7). Expression of E1A proteins inNIH3T3 cells did not significantly alter the monolayered morphology. Theresults indicated that E1A gene products could specifically reverse thetransforming morphology of the neu-transformed cells.

DNA synthesis was also studied as a measure of cell growth, to determinewhether the B-E1A transfectants were actively synthesizing DNA ascompared to controls. These studies were conducted through the use of a³ H!-thymidine incorporation assay. For these studies, cells were platedin ten replica into 96 well plates at a density of 9×10³ cells/well andcultured in DMEM supplemented with 10% calf serum. ³ H!-thymidine (1μCl) was added to each well at time points of 16, 40 and 64 h andcontinuously incubated at 37° C. for 2 h. Cells were then harvested andcellular DNA were bound to glass fiber filters. Radioactivities ofindividual samples were counted by Scintillation counter. Average cpmwere calculated from ten replicate samples.

The rate of DNA synthesis, as indicated by ³ H!-thymidine incorporation,was different among the three B-E1A transfectants (FIG. 8A). B-E1A-1 andB-E1A-2 displayed a much lower DNA synthesis rate, which coincided withtheir slower cell growth rate compared to B104-1-1 cells. ThisE1A-induced decrease in ³ H!-thymidine incorporation was not as dramaticin the B-E1A-3 cell line possibly due to the lower level of the E1Aproteins. These data suggested that E1A proteins can inhibit the effectof the neu oncogene on DNA synthesis and cell growth.

To test the influence of the E1A proteins on anchorage-independentgrowth, B104-1-1 cells and the B-E1A transfectants were assayed fortheir ability to grow in soft agar. The ability of B104-1- cells, B-E1Atransfectants, NIH3T3 cells and N-E1A transfectant to grow in softagarose was determined as described previously (Matin et al., 1990).Cells (1×10³ cells/plate) were plated in a 24 well plate in DMEMcontaining 10% calf serum and 0.35% agarose (BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.)over a 0.7% agarose lower layer. The cells were incubated at 37° C. for3 weeks and the plates were stained with p-iodonitrotetrazolium violet(1 mg/ml) for 24 h at 37° C. and colonies were counted.

The results of the soft agar studies demonstrated that colony formationby the E1A transfectants were strikingly reduced compared to that ofB104-1-1 and B-E1A pr transfectants (FIG. 8B). It is noteworthy that thecolony formation by NIH3T3 and N-E1A-1 lines did not vary significantly.

The most stringent experimental test for neoplastic behavior is theability of injected cells to form tumors in nude mice. Studies in nudemice were conducted because the examination of E1A repression ofneu-mediated tumorigenicity in vivo was considered to be a critical testof E1A effectiveness. For conducting tumorigenicity studies, theB104-1-1 cells, B-E1A transfectants, NIH3T3 cells and N-E1A transfectantin log-phase growth were trypsinized and washed twice with phosphatebuffered saline and centrifuged at 250×g. The viable cells were thencounted, and 1×10⁵ cells in 0.1 ml of phosphate buffered saline wereinjected subcutaneously into both the-right and left flanks of 5 to6-week old female homozygous nu/nu (nude) mice (Harlan Sprague DawleyCo.) under sterile conditions. Tumor formation was scored at indicateddays as presence or absence of a visible tumor mass. Sixteen days afterinjection, tumor volumes were estimated as the product ofthree-dimensional caliper measurements (longest surface length and widthand tumor thickness). The growth of tumors was monitored for a minimumof 16 days and maximum of 2 months.

When cells of the parental B104-1-1 line were injected subcutaneously innude mice, solid tumors developed by 8 days after injection; however,the same quantity of the E1A transfectants did not form tumors in nudemice until 12-26 days after injection and in every case the tumors weremuch smaller than those from B104-1-1 cells (FIG. 9A).

Although the B-E1A-1 and B-E1A-2 transfectants contained comparableamounts of the E1A gene, the B-E1A-1 cells did not cause tumordevelopment until a much later time. This is probably due to the lowerlevel of neu gene in this line. On the other hand, although both of theB-E1A-2 and B-E1A-3 transfectants contained the same level of the neugene as B104-1-1, the transforming suppression effect on B-E1A-3 was notas strong as on B-E1A-2. This was likely due to the lower level of theE1A gene in B-E1A-3. Typical results of E1A expression on neu oncogeneinduced tumorigenicity are shown in the photographs in FIGS. 9B and 11A.Evaluated 18 days after injection, animals injected with B104-1-1 cellswere found to bear huge tumors, whereas those injected with B-E1A-2transfected cells had considerably smaller tumor nodules. As expected,control animals injected with NIH3T3 cells showed no evidence of tumorformation.

Previous studies of Wilms' tumor cells and human prostate carcinomaDU145 cells demonstrated that reintroduction of chromosome 11 to Wilm'stumor cells or restoration of RB gene to DU145 cells suppressed tumorformation but did not alter the cell morphology, growth rate orcolony-forming ability (Weissman et al., 1987; Bookstine et al., 1990).These data suggest that growth rate in culture and tumorigenicity innude mice are separable phenomena. In the present study, the B-E1A-1 andB-E1A-2 cells exhibited slower growth rate and much weaker tumorigenicactivity. However, suppression of tumorigenicity cannot entirely beexplained by their slower growth rate and decreased ³ H!-thymidineincorporation. For example, the B-E1A-3 cells possessed similar ³H!-thymidine incorporation and cell growth rate as B104-1-1 cells, whiletheir tumorigenic activity was markedly suppressed as well. Takentogether, these results clearly demonstrate that introduction of the E1Agene into B104-1-1 cells suppresses all the transforming properties ofthe neu-transformed cells.

EXAMPLE III Suppression of Neu-Mediated Metastasis by E1A Gene Products

Additional studies were conducted using B-E1A transfectants of B104-1-1to demonstrate that E1A products also suppress neu-mediated metastasis.These studies employed B-E1A transfectants (B-E1A-1 through B-E1A-5) aswell as the negative and positive controls, NIH/3T3 and B104-1-1,respectively, in a cell motility in vitro invasion and an experimentalmetastasis assay.

The metastasis studies were performed essentially as described byWexler, 1966. Briefly, six-week-old pathogen-free female nude mice(Harland) were quarantined for 1 week and then used in the studies.Seven to ten mice/experimental group were inoculated with 1×10⁵cells/0.1 ml in PBS via the lateral tail vein at day 0. Each cell linewas then assessed at two different passage numbers. Mice were sacrificedat 21 days following injection and the number of lung metastases weredetermined by infiltration with India ink. Only those lung nodules >1 mmin diameter were counted. On further examination, no extrapulmonarymetastases were found. Representative photographs illustrating the grossappearance of the lungs from these animals are shown in FIG. 11B, whilstthe quantitative data from these studies are detailed below in Table 2.

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        EXPERIMENTAL METASTASIS ASSAY                                                                 Experimental metastasis                                                  Transfected         No. of lung nodules                            Cell Line  gene       Frequency                                                                              (mean ± SE)                                 ______________________________________                                        2NIH/3T3   --         0/9      0.0 ± 0.0                                   B104-1-1   neu        9/9      10.9 ± 10.3                                 N-E1A      E1A        0/8      0.0 ± 0.0                                   B-neo      neu + E1A  7/7      9.5 ± 7.9                                   B-E1A-1    neu + E1A  0/8      0.0 ± 0.0                                   B-E1A-2    neu + E1A  3/9      0.8 ± 0.4                                   B-E1A-3    neu + E1A  0/8      0.0 ± 0.0                                   B-E1A-4    neu + E1A  1/7      0.1 ± 0.4                                   B-E1A-5    neu + E1A   1/10    0.1 ± 0.4                                   ______________________________________                                    

The effectiveness of E1A at inhibiting neu-mediated metastasis isclearly illustrated in FIG. 11B. Furthermore, this single result wasfound to be representative of the entire study. None of the negativecontrol mice, NIH/3T3 and E1A transfected NIH/3T3 (N-E1A), exhibitedmetastatic lung nodules. However, all of the positive controls (B104-1-1and B-neo), exhibited metastatic nodules, at a mean frequency of about10 nodules. In contrast, all of the experimental lines (B-E1A-1 throughB-E1A-5) exhibited a reduced metastatic potential, with a frequencyranging from one to three (out of ten and nine, respectively), and amean number of 0.1 to 0.8 nodules in those animals that were positive.Note that two of the experimental lines, B-E1A-1 and B-E1A-3, weretotally free of metastases.

An increase in cell motility has been shown to correlate with a highermetastatic potential. Therefore, a motility assay, which measures themigration of the tested cell to a chemoattractant, fibronectin orhepatic sinusoidal endothelial cell conditioned media, was performed. Asshown in FIG. 10A, all of the B-E1A transfectants showed decreasedmigration rate to different chemoattractants than that of B-neo cellline, which are B104-1-1 cells transfected with neomycin-resistant(neo^(r)) gene alone. The N-E1A cells also had a low migration ratewhich is comparable to that of NlH3T3 cells.

Another step in the metastatic process involves invasion of tissues andbasement membranes. In vitro invasion assays also revealed significantdifferences between the B-neo cells and the B-E1A cell lines. B-neocells demonstrated a high rate of invasion similar to that of B104-1-1cells, while the B-E1A transfectants failed to invade the Matrigel.Injection of the B-neo cells and the five B-E1A cell lines into the tailvein of the nude mice showed dramatic differences in the frequencies andnumber of lung nodules (FIG. 10B and Table 2). Two of the five B-E1Atransfectants did not give rise to any experimental metastatic tumorsand the other three B-E1A lines had a very low incidence of experimentalmetastasis compared to that of B-neo cells (p>0.01). As expected, N-E1Acells were unable to produce any metastatic lung nodule. From theseresults, it is evident that E1A gene products can reduce the metastaticpotential of neu-transformed 3T3 cells, possible by transcriptionalrepression of neu gene expression.

These results, typified by those shown in FIG. 11B, demonstrate that E1Agene products are able to suppress not only the tumorigenic andtransformation events mediated by the neu gene (Example II), but arefurther able to suppress metastatic events that are neu mediated.

EXAMPLE IV E1A Suppresses c-erbB-2/neu Expression Connected with SevereMalignancies in Human Ovarian Carcinoma

The present example is directed to studies concerning the action of E1Ain repressing c-erbB-2/neu overexpression in SKOV3.ip1 cells and thefunctions of E1A as a tumor suppressor gene inc-erbB-2/neu-overexpressing human cancer cells.

1. Inhibited Expression of c-erbB-2/neu-encoded p185 in E1A-expressingOvarian Carcinoma Transfectants

The E1A-expressing plasmid was cotransfected into SKOV3.ip1 cellstogether with the pSV2-neo plasmid carrying the neomycin-resistancemarker gene, thus generating the E1A-expressing ovarian carcinoma stabletransfectants. The G418-resistant clones were selected and expanded intocell lines, which were designated ip1.E1A cell lines. The same approachwas used to select control cell lines, in which the pE1Adl343 plasmidscontaining a 2-base pair frameshift deletion in the E1A coding sequenceand producing nonfunctional protein products were introduced into theSKOV3.ip1 cells to generate the ip1.Efs cell line.

It was possible that some of the stable transfectants selected by thiscotransfection strategy only harbored the neomycin resistance gene butnot the E1A gene. Therefore, to identify those ip1.E1A transfectantsthat integrated the E1A gene and actually produced E1A proteins,immunoblot analysis with anti-E1A antibodies was performed (FIG. 12A).Two of the ip1.E1A transfectants expressed multiple species of E1Aproteins as described by Harlow et al., (1985), whereas the controlip1.Efs cell line, as expected, did not express E1A proteins.

In this manner, the inventors thus established two kinds of stabletransfectants: (a) ip1.E1A cells (i.e., SKOV3.ip1 E1A-expressingtransfectants), which were used to test the tumor-suppressing functionof E1A; and (b) ip1.Efs cells (i.e., SKOV3.ip1 transfectants containingE1A frameshift mutants), which were used as a control cell line to makesure that the changes in transformation phenotypes (if any) in ip1 .E1Atransfectants were not due to the selection process or to transfectionof the plasmids and the pSV2-neo gene.

As shown herein, E1A proteins can repress c-erbB-2/neu-encoded p185expression in the c-erbB-2/neu oncogene-transformed N1H3T3 cells. Inaddition, it is also shown herein that E1A proteins can decrease thec-erbB-2/neu mRNA level as well as c-erbB-2/neu-encoded p185 inc-erbB-2/neu-overexpressing breast cancer cell lines. To determine ifthe expression of E1A in ip1.E1A transfectants can inhibit p185expression, immunoblot analysis of c-erbB-2/neu-encoded p185 protein wasperformed.

It was found that p185 protein levels were dramatically decreased inboth the ip1.E1A1 and ip1.E1A2 cell lines versus the control ip1.Efscell line (FIG. 12B), which expressed an amount of c-erbB-2/neu-encodedp185 protein comparable to that of the parental SKOV3.ip1 cell line.Since p185 proteins were dramatically reduced in ip1.E1A transfectants,DNA blot analyses of the c-erbB-2/neu gene was conducted to ensure thatthe reduction in c-erbB-2/neu-encoded p185 protein level was not due toloss of the c-erbB-2/neu gene. As shown in FIG. 12C, both the ip1.E1A1and ip1.E1A2 cell lines contained copy numbers of the c-erbB-2/neu genesimilar to that of ip1.Efs cell line. Therefore, the incorporation ofthe E1A gene into the genome of SKOV3.ip1 cells did not alter thec-erbB-2/neu gene at the DNA level. Furthermore, these results indicatethat the E1A can repress the c-erbB-2/neu-encoded p185 proteinexpression in ip1.E1A transfectants.

2. In Vitro Suppression of SKOV3.ip1 Cell Transformation by E1AExpression

Once the E1A-expressing ip1.E1A lines were established, the inventorsexamined the effect of E1A expression on the c-erbB-2/neu-overexpressingovarian cancer cells in vitro, assessing growth properties, DNAsynthesis rate, and colony formation in soft agar. The growth curves ofthe E1A-expressing ip1.E1A1 and ip1.E1A2 cell lines and control ip1.Efscell line indicated that E1A expression slightly reduced the growth rateof these ovarian cancer cells versus the control cells (FIG. 13A).Measurement of the DNA synthesis rate by ³ H!thymidine incorporationassays revealed that the control ip1.Efs cells had a high level of ³H!thymidine incorporation that was similar to that of SKOV3.ip1 cellsand significantly higher than the ³ H!thymidine incorporation in theE1A-expressing ip1.E1A1 and ip1.E1A2 cell lines (FIG. 13B).

FIG. 13C shows that the c-erbB-2/neu-overexpressing ip1.Efs cellsexhibited high efficiency in forming soft agar colonies, whereas thecolony-forming efficiencies of the two ip1.E1A transfectants werestrikingly reduced. These data suggested thaw E1A proteins can suppressthe effect of the c-erbB-2/neu-overexpression in ovarian cancer cellsand inhibit cell growth, DNA synthesis, and anchorage-independentgrowth.

3. E1A as a Tumor Suppressor Gene for c-erbB-2/neu-Overexpressing HumanOvarian Carcinoma SKOV3.ip1 Cells

A critical test for E1A-mediated transformation suppression function inovarian cancer cells is the ability of E1A to suppress tumor formationin vivo. Therefore, tumorigenicity assays were performed in mice thatwere injected s.o. with 3×10⁵ cells from either the E1A-expressingip1.E1A1 and ip1.E1A2 cell lines or the control ip1.Efs cell line (FIG.14A). Like mice given injections of the parental SKOV3.ip1 cells, micegiven injections of the control ip1.Efs cells formed tumors 7 days afterinjection and had huge tumor burdens of 3280±1310 mm³ by 80 dayspostinjection. However, nu/nu mice given injections of the same numberof ip1.E1A1 transfectants did not form tumors until 21-30 days afterinjection, and their tumor burdens were only 460±170 mm³ by 80 dayspostinjection.

The tumor-suppressing function of E1A was more dramatic in mice giveninjections of the ip1.E1A2 transfectants, which did not induce tumorsuntil 40-50 days postinjection, and 2 of 6 mice did not develop anytumor, even at 160 days postinjection. The tumor size in the four micegiven injections of ip1.E1A2 were 290±220 mm³ at 160 days postinjection.Therefore, these results clearly demonstrated that E1A can suppress thetumorigenic potential of the ovarian carcinoma SKOV3.ip1 cells.

It is shown above that SKOV3.ip1 cells, when compared to SK-OV-3 cells,induced a higher mortality rate and shorter survival following i.p.injection into nu/nu mice. To determine whether E1A expression inSKOV3.ip1 cells could counteract the effect of c-erbB-2/neuoverexpression and reduce the mortality rate, the inventors gave micei.p. injections of the E1A-expressing ip1.E1A1 and ip1.E1A2 cell linesand the control ip1.Efs cell line. Mice given injections of 1×10⁴ip1.Efs cells developed tumor symptoms similar to those described in theprevious section; one of the mice died of tumor as early as 19 dayspostinjection, and all of the other mice died within 75 dayspostinjection (FIG. 14A). However, there was a significant increase insurvival for mice given injections of the E1A-transfected lines versusthe parent SKOV3.ip1 and frameshift-transfectant ip1.Efs cell line(P<0.01) (FIG. 14B). The results indicated that E1A expression canreduce the mortality of mice given injections ofc-erbB-2/neu-overexpressing human ovarian carcinoma cells.

4. Discussion

The inventors have isolated a derivative cell line termed SKOV3.ip1 fromthe ascites that developed in mice given injections of human ovariancarcinoma SK-OV-3 cells. Compared with parental SK-OV-3 cells, theSKOV3.ip1 cell line expresses higher levels of c-erbB-2/neu-encoded p185protein and corresponding exhibits more malignant phenotypes determinedby in vitro and in vivo assays. This association between enhancedc-erbB-2/neu expression and more severe malignancy is very consistentwith previous studies in which c-erbB-2/neu overexpression was shown tocorrelate with poor prognosis in ovarian cancer patients (Slamon et al.,1989).

The inventors data provided actual evidence to support those clinicalstudies that c-erbB-2/neu overexpression can be used as a prognosticfactor for ovarian cancer patients and that c-erbB-2/neu overexpressionmay play an important role in the pathogenesis of certain humanmalignancies such as ovarian cancer. Although not important to theutility of the claimed invention, it will be interesting to furtherstudy the molecular mechanisms and biochemical pathways involved inc-erbB-2/neu overexpression and the associated malignant phenotype. Therecent identification and molecular cloning of the ligands for thec-erbB-2/neu-encoded p185, which can increase the tyrosinephosphorylation of p185, will enable future direct examination of themolecular mechanisms and the biological effects of c-erbB-2/neuoverexpression in human cancer and cancer metastasis (Peles et al.,1992; Holmes et al., 1992; Lupe et al., 1990; Yarden & Peles, 1991;Huang & Huang, 1992; Dobashi et al., 1991).

The adenovirus E1A gene was originally defined as a transformingoncogene that can substitute for the myo oncogene and simian virus 40large tumor antigen gene in the ras cotransformation assay of primaryembryo fibroblasts (Land et al., 1983; Ruley, 1983; Weinberg, 1985). Asdetailed herein, the inventors have found that E1A products can act astransformation and metastasis suppressors in the mutation-activated ratneu-transformed mouse 3T3 cells. In this particular example, it isfurther demonstrated that the E1A gene products effectively repressedc-erbB-2/neu gene expression in SKOV3.ip1 ovarian carcinoma cells,suppressed transformation phenotypes in vitro, and reducedtumorigenicity and mortality rate in vivo. These results indicate thatthe adenovirus E1A gene can function as a tumor suppressor gene forc-erbB-2/neu-over expressing human cancer cells as well as inhibittransformation induced by mutation-activated neu oncogene in rodentcells.

Since the inventors have previously demonstrated that E1A products candramatically inhibit the c-erbB-2/neu mRNA level andc-erbB-2/neu-encoded p185 expression in human breast cancer cell lines,and have shown that the E1A gene products can repress neu geneexpression at the transcriptional level by targeting at a specific DNAelement in the neu gene promotor, it is likely that the reduced p185expression in the ip1.E1A cell lines is due to transcriptionalrepression of the overexpressed c-erbB-2/neu gene, which may be one ofthe diverse molecular mechanisms that account for the tumor suppressorfunction of E1A in SKOV3.ip1 ovarian cancer cells. Interestingly, it hasbeen shown that adenovirus E1A can render hamster cell lines moresusceptible to lysis by natural killer cells and macrophages (Cook &Lewis, 1984; Sawada et al., 1985) increased sensitivity to cytotoxicityby tumor necrosis factor in transfected NIH3T3 cells (Cook et al.,1989). Therefore, it is conceivable that the tumor-suppressing functionof E1A may be partly due to an increased susceptibility to cytolyticlymphoid cells and molecules.

Recently, E1A protein was shown to induce a cytotoxic response thatresembles programmed cell death (apoptosis) (Rao et al., 1992), whichmay also contribute to the tumor-suppressing function of E1A. Inaddition, E1A has been reported to convert three unrelated types ofhuman cancer cells into a nontransformed state (Frisch, 1991). Thissuggests that E1A may also function as a tumor suppressor gene forcertain human cancer cells in which c-erbB-2/neu is not overexpressed.It is not yet clear whether growth signals associated with thec-erbB-2/neu-encoded p185 protein might be activated in these humancancer cells and whether E1A might repress transforming phenotypes ofthese human cancer cells by blocking the signal transduction pathwayassociated with p185 protein via repressing c-erbB-2/neu expression; orE1A might suppress tumor formation through other mechanisms in certainhuman cancer cells. Despite the potential involvement of differentmolecular mechanisms, these results clearly establish E1A as a tumorsuppressor gene for c-erbB-2/neu-overexpressing human ovarian cancercells and indicate that E1A is a potential therapeutic reagent for thetreatment of these human cancers.

It has been proposed that there are cellular "E1A-like" factors that maymimic the function of E1A in certain cell types (Nelson et al., 1990).Many common features between E1A and c-myc suggest that the c-myc geneproduct may be one of the cellular homologue of the E1A protein. Thesecommon features include the following: E1A and c-myc share a similarstructural motif (Figge & Smith, 1988; Figge et al., 1988); both E1A andc-myc can transform primary embryo fibroblasts in cooperation the rasoncogene (Land et al., 1983; Ruley, 1983); both can bind specifically tothe human Rb gene product, the RB protein (Whyte et al., 1988; Rustgi etal., 1991); both can induce apoptosis in certain cell types (Rao et al.,1992; Frisch, 1991; Nelson et al., 1990; Figge & Smith, 1988; Figge etal., 1988; Whyte et al., 1988; Rustgi et al., 1991; Evan et al., 1992);and both have been shown to block transformation of certain transformedcell lines (Frisch, 1991; Nelson et al., 1990; Figge & Smith, 1988;Figge et al., 1988; Whyte et al., 1988; Rustgi et al., 1991; Evan etal., 1992; Suen & Hung, 1991). In addition, the inventors have foundthat, similar to the E1A proteins, the c-myc gene product can repressc-erbB-2/neu gene expression at the transcription level, resulting inreversal of the neu-induced transformed morphology in NIH3T3 cells (Wanget al., 1991). Whether c-myc can suppress the malignancy ofc-erbB-2/neu-overexpressing human cancer cells is an interesting issuethat the inventors propose to examine.

E1A can inactivate the Rb tumor suppressor gene by complexing the Rbgene product, Rb protein, and by inducing RB protein phosphorylation(Whyte et al., 1988; Rustgi et al., 1991; Evan et al., 1992; Suen &Hung, 1991; Wang et al., 1991). Therefore, the inventors have recentlyexamined whether RB might also regulate c-erbB-2/neu expression. Similarto E1A, RB can also repress c-erbB-2/neu gene expression at thetranscriptional level (Yu et al., 1992). The cis-acting elementsresponding to E1A and RB are different but only a few base pairs awayfrom each other. It will be interesting to study further the possibilitythat E1A and RB might interact with each other to regulate c-erbB-2/neutranscription.

The E1A gene of adenovirus 2, a close sera type of adenovirus 5, wasshown to reduce the metastatic potential of ras-transformed rat embryocells (Pozzatti et al., 1988). It was hypothesized that the Ad-2 E1Agene may regulate the expression of one or more cellular genes thatcontribute to the metastatic phenotype and expression of nm23, a geneassociated with low metastatic potential in certain cell types that wassubsequently shown to be elevated in E1A-expressing ras-transformed ratembryo cells (Steeg et al., 1988). Although the inventors have foundthat E1A can repress c-erbB-2/neu gene expression and suppress themetastatic potential of c-erbB-2/neu-transformed 3T3 cell, thec-erbB-2/neu gene expression levels in the parental ras-transformed ratembryo cells and E1A-expressing ras-transformed rat embryo cells is notknown. Therefore, it is not clear at this moment whether repression ofc-erbB-2/neu gene expression contributes to the metastasis suppressionfunction of E1A in ras-transformed rat embryo cells.

One of the interesting issues on the correlation between c-erbB-2/neuoverexpression and poor clinical outcome in human breast and ovariancancers is whether c-erbB-2/neu overexpression is the result of anaggressive tumor or has a causative role for aggressive tumors. The datapresented here support a direct role for c-erbB-2/neu overexpression inthe pathogenesis of aggressive tumors. First, comparison of the SK-OV-3cell line and the derivative SKOV3.ip1 cell line revealed a directrelationship between an increased c-erbB-2/neu expression level and anenhanced malignant phenotype measured by in vitro and in vivo assays.Second, c-erbB-2/neu expression in the E1A-expressing ip1.E1A cells wasdramatically repressed, and, accordingly, the malignant potential ofthese cells was diminished. Taken together, these observations argue fora causative role of c-erbB-2/neu overexpression in the more malignanttumor pattern. Since c-erbB-2/neu-overexpressing ovarian tumors may bemore malignant, more aggressive therapy might be beneficial to thoseovarian cancer patients whose tumors overexpress c-erbB-2/neu-encodedp185.

EXAMPLE V Suppression of the Neu Promoter with LT

1. Materials and Methods

a. Cell Culture.

NIH 3T3, B104-1-1 and Rat-1 cells were maintained in 5% C02 inDulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM/F-12) supplemented with 10%calf serum and 100 IU/mL penicillin and 100 mg/mL streptomycin. Cellstransfected with the drug selection plasmid, pSV2neo, were grown in theabove media containing 400 mg/mL G418.

b. Plasmids.

The following plasmids have been described: neu deletion-CAT constructs(Suen et al., 1990), EGF receptor-CAT construct, pERCAT-9 (37), plasmidencoding activated genomic neu, cNeu-104 (Hung et al., 1986) and controlfiller plasmid, pSV2E (Suen et al., 1990). Two LT encoding plasmids wereused, pZ189 or pVU-0, both of which showed similar results. PlasmidspVU-0 (Seidman et al., 1985) and mutant LT encoding plasmids, pK1 andpK7 (Kalderon et al., 1984), were generous gifts from Dr. Livingston.

c. Stable Transfections.

The drug selection plasmid pSV2neo was cotransfected with plasmidsencoding LT into B104-1-1 cells. The transfected plates were trypsinizedafter 48 h and split into 4 plates and subsequently maintained in mediacontaining 400 mg/mL G418. After 3 weeks, colonies were isolated andestablished in media containing G418).

d. Transient Transfections and CAT assays.

Cells were transfected using the modified calcium phosphateprecipitation technique (Chen et al., 1987). Cells were harvested 48 hafter transfection and cell extracts obtained by freeze-thawing. Fortransfections involving LT, the protein concentration was determinedusing an aliquot of the extract. Aliquots of extracts containing equalamounts of protein were used for CAT assay (Gorman et al., 1982).Transfections and CAT assays were repeated 3-4 times and representativedata is shown.

e. Immunoblotting.

Immunoblotting was done as described (Matin et al., 1990). Confluentcells grown in 10-cm dishes were washed and lysed with lysis buffer and100 mg protein was loaded for electrophoresis on SDS-polyacrylamide gelsfollowed by transfer to nitrocellulose. To detect expression of p185,blots were incubated with anti-neu antibody (c-neu, Ab-3, OncogeneScience, Manhasset, N.Y.), then reacted with secondary antibody, goatanti-mouse conjugated with horse radish peroxidase. The nitrocellulosewas subsequently developed with horse radish peroxidase substrate,4-chloro-1-napthol and hydrogen peroxide. To analyze the expression ofLT antigen, blots were probed with monoclonal antibody specific for LT(SV 40 T-Ag, Ab-2, Oncogene Science). Blots were incubated with 1 mg/mL125I!-protein A. After further washing, dried blots were exposed forautoradiography.

f. Southern blotting.

Genomic DNA was harvested from cells and digested with Bam H1 forSouthern blotting as described (Zhang et al., 1989). Blots werehybridized using 32P-labelled rat neu cDNA probe.

g. Focus forming assay.

Focus forming assay was carried out as described (Yu et al., 1992). Thecosmid clone, cNeu-104 (Hung et al., 1986), contains 30 kb of activatinggenomic rat neu including 2.2 kb of the neu promoter. cNeu-104 (0.5 mg)was cotransfected into normal fibroblasts (Rat-1 cells) with 0.1 mg ofthe drug selection plasmid, pSV2neo, and 5-10 mg plasmids encodingmutant LT (pK1 ) or control filler plasmid, pSV2E. Cells weretrypsinized and split into 4 plates 48 h after transfection. Two plateswere maintained in regular media while the other 2 plates weremaintained in media supplemented with G418. For cells kept in regularmedia for 3 weeks, foci of transformed cells appeared on a backgroundmonolayer of nontransformed cells. G418 resistant colonies appeared forplates maintained in G418 media. Foci and G418 resistant colonies werestained with 1% crystal violet and counted. To normalize fortransfection efficiency, the number of foci formed for each transfectionwas divided by the number of G418 colonies obtained.

2. Results

a. LT Reduces Neu-Encoded p185 Levels in Cells That Overexpress p185.

To test the effect of LT in cells that overexpress neu encoded p185,plasmids encoding LT, pZ189 (driven by the SV 40 promoter), togetherwith pSV2neo (plasmids encoding the gene for neomycin resistance) werecotransfected into B104-1-1 cells. B104-1-1 cells are derived from NIH3T 3 cells transformed by the mutation-activated genomic rat neuoncogene (Shih et al., 1981; Hung et al., 1986). B104-1-1 cells expresshigh levels of activated neu encoded p185, are phenotypicallytransformed (Padhy et al., 1982; Shih et al., 1981), highly tumorigenic(Yu et al., 1991; Hung et al. 1989) and have increased metastaticpotential (Yu et al., 1991; Yu et al. 1992). The LT-transfected and G418resistant B104-1-1 cells were cloned after 3 weeks and 2 cell linesexpanded from the clones (named BTn14 and BTn16 cell lines were analyzedfor expression of LT and p185. Immunoblotting of cell lysates for LTusing anti-LT antibody (SV 40 T-Ag, Ab-2, Oncogene Science), showed 2bands of molecular weights less than 111 kd indicating expression of LTin BTn14 and BTn16 cell lines (FIG. 15-B, lanes 1 and 2). The bands areprobably different phosphorylated forms of LT, as reported previously(Livingston et al., 1987). A control cell line, BEn5, was generated bytransfecting B104-1-1 cells with pSV2neo and pSV2E (control plasmidsimilar to pZ189, containing the SV 40 promoter but lacking the LTcoding region). As expected, BEn5 and NIH 3T3 cells do not express LT(FIG. 15-B, lanes 3 and 4).

The level of neu encoded p185 in these cell lines by immunoblottingwhole cell lysates with monoclonal anti-p185 antibody (c-neu Ab-3,Oncogene Science), which recognizes the carboxy terminus of p185 wasthen analyzed. The control cell line, BEn5, expresses a high level ofrat neu encoded p185 (FIG. 15-A, lane 3) similar to parental B104-1-1cells (data not shown). No p185 expression was detected in the negativecontrol cells, NIH 3T3, using this antibody and detection system (FIG.15-A, lane 4). The two cell lines expressing LT antigen (BTn14 and BTn16cell lines) had significantly lower levels of p185 expression (FIG.15-A, lanes 1 and 2) compared to BEn 5 cell line which does not expressLT. The expression of p185 in the LT transfected cells decreased byapproximately 60% to 80%. BTn16 cells (FIG. 15-A & B, lane 1) expressedhigher levels of LT and had lower p185 expression, suggesting an inversecorrelation between LT expression and p185 level.

To ensure that the decreased expression of p185 was not due to decreasedcopy number of rat genomic neu oncogene, the level of rat neu DNA inthese cells was analyzed by Southern blot analysis. The levels ofgenomic rat neu oncogene in the BTn14 and BTn16 cell lines (FIG. 15-C,lanes 1 and 2) were equivalent to that in BEn5 cell line (FIG. 15-C,lane 3). The parental NIH 3T3 cells used as control does not have ratneu DNA. These studies show that when LT is stably expressed in cellsthat originally express high levels of neu-encoded p185, there is aresulting decrease in the level of p185, indicating that LT, similar toc-myc and E1A, can repress neu expression.

b. LT Specifically Inhibits the Neu Promoter

To determine whether the LT antigen inhibited rat neu expression at thetranscriptional level, the effect of LT on the upstream regulatorysequences of neu using transient transfection assays was examined.Plasmids encoding LT antigen (pvU-0 or pZ189) (Kalderon et al., 1984)were cotransfected with plasmids encoding 2.2 kb rat neu upstreamregulatory sequences linked to a reporter chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene (pNeuEcoR1CAT) (Suen et al., 1990) into NIH 3T3cells. The control plasmid, pSV2E, was used as a filler plasmid toadjust concentrations in cotransfections. About 80% inhibition of the2.2 kb neu promoter activity was achieved by a 10-fold excess of LTplasmid (FIG. 16, lanes 1 & 2). The inhibitory activity of LT wasspecific to neu since the activity of the epidermal growth factorreceptor regulatory sequence (pEGFrCAT) (Johnson et al., 1988) wasunaffected by a similar amount of LT (FIG. 16, lanes 3 & 4). Inaddition, LT had a dose dependent effect on the activity of theregulatory sequences of neu as increasing amounts of LT led to decreasedCAT activity of pneuEcoR1CAT (FIG. 17). Thus, LT specifically inhibitsthe activity of the rat neu promoter.

c. Repression of Neu by LT is Mediated Through the Xho1-Nar1 Region

The region of the 2.2 kb neu regulatory sequence that responds to LT wasmapped. To this end, series deletion constructs of the neu regulatorysequence-CAT (FIG. 18-A) (Suen et al., 1990) were cotransfected withplasmid encoding LT into NIH 3T3 cells. FIG. 18-B shows that the CATactivity of each of the neu-deletion constructs and the inhibition ofthis activity in the presence of LT (pVU-0 or pZ189). There was a70%-80% inhibition of the CAT activity of most of the neu-deletionconstructs except for pneuXba1CAT and pNeuEcoRV2CAT. In repeatedstudies, the inventors found less repression by LT of these twoconstructs. Overall, the activity of all the deletion constructs,including pneuXho1CAT, were repressed by LT. This indicates thatrepression of neu by LT is mediated through the 94 base pair Xho1-Nar1region (-172 to -79, relative to first ATG) of the rat neu promoter.

S1 protection studies have identified four transcription initiationsites in the rat neu promoter. Three of them, including the two majorsites (at -158 and -147) are within 30 bp downstream of the Xho1 site(Suen et al., 1990). Further deletions of nucleotides were madedownstream of the Xho1 site using Bal 31 digestion (Yanisch-Perron etal., 1985). However, this led to dramatic reduction of activity of theneu promoter (data not shown). Thus the Xho1-Nar1 region of neuencompasses the minimum promoter of the rat neu gene and LT inhibits theactivity of the minimum promoter of neu.

Gel-shift assays indicated that the 94 base pair Xho1-Nar1 DNA fragmentspecifically complexes with proteins in the nuclear extract of NIH 3T3cells (FIG. 19, lane 1). The complex, A, is detected using gels withlarge pore size (4.5% gels, acrylamide: bisacrylamide=80:1) which havebeen previously shown to detect large DNA-protein complex involved intranscription initiation (Dynlacht et al., 1991), but not with gels withsmaller pore size (acrylamide: bisacrylamide=29:1) (data not shown).This suggests A is a large DNA-protein complex that may involve factorsin the initiation or elongation complex for neu transcription. However,nuclear extracts from cells that express LT, BTn 14 cell line, also gavea similar DNA-protein complex profile in such gel-shift assays (FIG. 19,lane 3). Thus, the presence of LT in the nuclear extract did not affectthe mobility of complex A. One explanation of this is that complex A isalready so large that the presence of LT (in nuclear extracts from BTn14 cells) does not create a observable difference in the shift. Indeed,complex A is found very near the top of the gel and is a broad bandsuggesting the present of multiple types of DNA-protein complexes.Another possibility is that LT has indirect or subtle effects on complexA at the Xhol-Nar1 fragment such as a change in phosphorylation ofprotein factors or a change in conformation of some factors that can notbe detected by gel-shift assays.

d. A Non-transforming Mutant of LT (K1 ) is a Suppressor of Neu

LT and Rb are known to form a protein complex (DeCaprio et al., 1988)and Rb also modulates neu expression (Yu et al., 1992), therefore, itmight be expected that the LT-Rb complex is involved in repression ofneu. To examine this, an available mutant of LT (K1) was utilized. K1has a single amino acid change within the region required for Rb binding(amino acids 105-114 of LT) (FIG. 20-A) (Kalderon et al., 1984). K1expresses mutant LT protein which is unable to complex Rb (DeCaprio etal., 1988) and K1 is defective for transformation as assayed by focusforming assay in Rat-1 cells (Kalderon et al., 1984; Cherington et al.,1988). pneuXho1CAT together with plasmids encoding wild type (pVU-0) ormutant LT (K1) were cotransfected into NIH 3T3 cells. Surprisingly, K1represses neu as effectively as wild type LT (FIG. 20-B). Therefore,complex formation between LT and Rb is not required for LT-mediated neurepression.

K1, unlike wild type LT, is unable to transform Rat-1 cells in focusforming assays (Kalderon et al., 1984). Therefore, the above resultsraises an interesting question whether K1 may function as atransformation suppressor of activated neu in Rat-1 cells. To test thispossibility, focus forming assays were carried out to determine theeffect of stably transfecting K1 with activated genomic neu. The plasmidcNeu-104 encodes the activated genomic neu which has a single pointmutation in the transmembrane domain and is driven by 2.2 kb of neuupstream regulatory sequences (Hung et al., 1986). Upon introduction ofcNeu-104 into normal Rat-1 fibroblasts, those cells that stably expressactivated neu are transformed and 3-4 weeks later form visible foci on abackground of normal monolayer cells. When K1 was cotransfected withcNeu-104 into Rat-1 cells, it led to 50% reduction in the number of fociformed by cNeu-104 (FIG. 20-C). Transfection of K1 only does not induceany foci. Suppression of neu-transforming activity with wild type LT(pVU-0) is complicated by the fact that wild type LT itself formstransformed foci in Rat-1 cells (data not shown) which makes itimpossible to analyze the data. Therefore, mutant LTs unable to complexwith Rb that act as transformation suppressors of activated neu may bethe most clinically useful of the LT gene products.

3. Discussion The results of these studies show that the function of therat neu promoter is suppressed by the transforming viral oncoprotein, SV40 LT antigen. This activity of LT is similar to that observed for theadenovirus 5 E1A and the c-myc oncoproteins, with whom LT shares a fewstructural and functional similarities but striking differences. Theinhibitory activity of LT is apparent in the LT-transfected stable celllines which showed an inverse correlation of neu p185 to LT proteinexpression. Thus, expression of LT in cells leads to reduced expressionof neu encoded p185 in cells.

LT inhibits neu by repressing the activity of the minimum neu promoter.Series deletion analysis of the upstream regulatory sequences of neushowed that repression by LT is mediated through the 94 bp Xho1-Nar1region of the neu gene, which contains the minimum promoter 30 bpdownstream of the Xho1 site. This result is unlike that of c-myc andE1A, since these repress neu through an upstream region of theregulatory sequences of neu. Thus LT mediates repression of neu througha different pathway compared to c-myc and E1A. Therefore, thesestructurally related oncogenes repress the activity of the neu promoterby acting through different regions of the regulatory sequences of neu.Although the promoter of the epidermal growth factor receptor and thepromoter of neu share some common features (Suen et al.,1990; Johnson etal., 1988), LT did not inhibit the activity of the promoter of epidermalgrowth factor receptor. Thus, LT specifically affects the promoters ofcertain growth factor receptors.

Since LT mediates repression of neu through the Xho1-Nar1 region whichcontains only minimum sequence upstream of the two major transcriptioninitiation sites, it is possible that LT may modulate transcriptioninitiation or elongation from the neu promoter. LT is known to interactwith cellular transcription factors such as AP-2 and abrogate itsfunction (Mitchell et al., 1987). However, examination of the 94 bpsequences within Xho1-Nar1 revealed no motif with significant homologyto the AP-2 (Suen et al., 1990).

EXAMPLE VI Suppression of Neu-Mediated Cancer with LT

1. Suppression of Neu-Mediated Cancer by LT in Mice

The inventors are conducting ongoing studies of the abilities of pK1 tosuppress the growth and metastasis of neu-overexpressing human ovariancancer cells (SK-OV-3 cells) in female homozygous nu/nu (nude) mice.SK-OV-3 cells express high levels of neu and are highly metastatic innude mice (Yu et al. 1993). These studies involve treatment of thesemice with a liposomal complex liposomes comprising lipids and pK1. pK1comprises DNA encoding a non-transforming mutant of LT (Kalderon et al.1984). Details of this study are given in Example VII, 2.

2. LT Suppression of Neu-Mediated Cancer in Humans

The results obtained using the cell lines and animal models described inthis application are of the type widely accepted by those of skill inthe art as being predictive of success in human treatment regimens.Indeed, clinical trials concerning the use of LT to suppress theexpression of neu in humans are contemplated. However, due toprecautions which are necessarily attendant to every new pharmaceutical,the compositions and methods of the present invention have not yet beentested in such a clinical setting. Nevertheless, the results presentedherein reasonably demonstrate that LT will be useful in combatingcancers which exhibit neu-overexpression, such as breast cancers,ovarian cancers, lung cancer, gastric cancer, oral cancers and prostatecancer.

One of the initial clinical trials to be performed involvesnon-transforming mutants of LT, for example K1 . These non-transformingmutants have demonstrated the ability to suppress neu-mediated cancersin both cell cultures studies and in vivo animal model studies. The useof such mutants avoids potential problems with transformation. In theseclinical studies, K1 will be introduced into the human cancer cells tosuppress the production of neu.

Among those patients who will benefit from this therapy are those whosecancer cells express high levels of neu. The level of neu expression ina given patient can be determined by analysis of biopsy samples ofcancer tissue using routine techniques such as immunohistochemistry orwestern blotting. These diagnostic techniques are routinely practicedand well known to those of skill in the art.

Targeting of cancerous tissues overexpressing neu may be accomplished inany one of a variety of ways. Plasmid vectors and retroviral vectors,adenovirus vectors, and other viral vectors all present means by whichto target human cancers. The inventors anticipate particular success forthe use of liposomes to target LT genes to cancer cells. In one of thefirst series of clinical phase to be performed, DNA encodingnontransforming mutants of LT such as K1 will be complexed withliposomes in the manner described in Example VII, and this DNA/liposomecomplex will be injected into patients with certain forms of cancer,such as breast cancer, intravenous injection can be used to direct theK1 gene to all cells, including those which overexpress neu. Directlyinjecting the liposome complex into the proximity of a cancer can alsoprovide for targeting of the complex with some forms of cancer. Forexample, cancers of the ovary can be targeted by injecting the liposomemixture directly into the parataenial cavity of patients with ovariancancer. Of course, the potential for liposomes that are selectivelytaken up by a population of cancerous cells exists, and such liposomeswill also be useful for targeting the LT gene.

Those of skill in the art will recognize that the best treatmentregimens for using LT to suppress neu-mediated cancers can bestraightforwardly determined. This is not a question of experimentation,but rather one of optimization, which is routinely conducted in themedical arts. The in vivo studies in nude mice provide a starting pointfrom which to begin to optimize the dosage and delivery regimes. Thefrequency of injection will initially be once a week, as was done in themice studies. However, this frequency might be optimally adjusted fromone day to every two weeks to monthly, depending upon the resultsobtained from the initial clinical trials and the needs of a particularpatient. Human dosage amounts can initially be determined byextrapolating from the amount of LT used in mice, approximately 15 μg ofplasmid DNA per 50 g body weight. Based on this, a 50 kg woman wouldrequire treatment with 15 mg of DNA per dose. Of course, this dosageamount may be adjusted upward or downward, as is routinely done in suchtreatment protocols, depending on the results of the initial clinicaltrials and the needs of a particular patient.

3. Liposomal Transfection with E1A and/or LT to Suppress neu-MediatedCancers

One particularly useful way to use E1A and/or LT to repress neu-mediatedphenotypes is via the use of liposomes for carrying the suppressor's DNAinto the oncogenic cells.

EXAMPLE VII Preparation of Liposome/DNA Complexes and Prevention ofNeu-Mediated Tumors with the Complexes

1. Preparation of Liposomes

Catatonic liposomes which are efficient transfection reagents for boththe E1A and LT genes for animal cells can be prepared using the methodof Gao et al. (1991). Gao et al. describes a novel catatonic cholesterolderivative that can be synthesized in a single step. Liposomes made ofthis lipid are reportedly more efficient in transfection and less toxicto treated cells than those made with the reagent Lipofectin. Theselipids are a mixture of DC-Chol("3β(N-(N'N'-dimethylaminoethane)-carbamoyl cholesterol") and DOPE("dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine"). The steps in producing theseliposomes are as follows.

DC-Chol is synthesized by a simple reaction from cholesterylchloroformate and N,N-Dimethylethylenediamine. A solution of cholesterylchloroformate (2.25 g, 5 mmol in 5 ml dry chloroform) is added dropwiseto a solution of excess N,N-Dimethylethylenediamine (2 ml, 18.2 mmol in3 ml dry chloroform) at 0° C. Following removal of the solvent byevaporation, the residue is purified by recrystallization in absoluteethanol at 4° C. and dried in vacuo. The yield is a white powder ofDC-Chol.

Cationic liposomes are prepared by mixing 1.2 μmol of DC-Chol and 8.0μmol of DOPE in chloroform. This mixture is then dried, vacuumdesiccated, and resuspended in 1 ml sterol 20 mM Hepes buffer (pH 7.8)in a tube. After 24 hours of hydration at 4° C., the dispersion issonicated for 5-10 minutes in a sonicator form liposomes with an averagediameter of 150-200 nm.

To prepare a liposome/DNA complex, the inventors use the followingsteps. The DNA to be transfected is placed in DMEM/F12 medium in a ratioof 15 μg DNA to 50 μl DMEM/F12. DMEM/F12 is then used to dilute theDC-Chol/DOPE liposome mixture to a ratio of 50 μl DMEZM/F12 to 100 μlliposome. The DNA dilution and the liposome dilution are then gentlymixed, and incubated at 37° C. for 10 minutes. Following incubation, theDNA/liposome complex is ready for injection.

2. In Vivo Treatment of Neu-Mediated Cancer Via Liposomes

The inventors have shown that liposome-mediated direct gene transfertechniques can be employed to obtain E1A suppression ofneu-overexpressing human cancer cells in living host. The protocol forthis study was as follows.

Female nude mice (5-6 weeks old) were given intraperitoneal injectionsof SK-OV-3 cells (2×10⁶ /100 μl). SK-OV-3 cells are human ovarian cancercells that have been shown to grow within the peritoneal cavity of nudemice. After five days, the mice were given intraperitoneal injections ofvarious compounds. Some mice were injected with E1A DNA alone, some wereinjected with liposome/E1A DNA complex prepared in the manner describedabove, and some were injected with liposome/Efs (an E1A frameshiftmutant) DNA complex. 200 μl of a given compound was injected into agiven mouse. After the initial injections, injections were repeatedevery seven days throughout the life of the mouse.

FIG. 21 shows the results of this study. Mouse 1, was injected with E1ADNA alone and developed extensive bloody ascites. Mouse 1 died 65 daysafter the injection of the SK-OV-3 cells. Mouse 2 was injected withliposome/Efs DNA complex. Mouse 2 developed extensive bloody ascites anda large tumor and died 76 days after injection of the SK-OV-3 cells.Mouse 3 was injected with the liposome/E1A DNA complex. This mouselooked healthy and normal and was still alive 160 days after theinjection of the SK-OV-3 cells.

These results indicate that liposome-mediated E1A gene transfer caninhibit neu-overexpressing human ovarian cancer cell growth. Therefore,it is predictable that liposome-mediated E1A or LT gene therapy mayserve as a powerful therapeutic agent for HER-2 neu-overexpressing humanovarian cancers by direct targeting of E1A or LT at the HER-2neu-oncogene.

The inventors are presently testing the effects of the LT mutant pK1 onthe growth and metastasis of the human ovarian cancer cells SK-OV-3 inessentially the same manner as used to test the effects of E1A on thesecells. In these experiments, nude mice were intraperitoneally injectedwith 1.8×10⁶ SK-OV-3 cells per ml of phosphate buffered saline. Thefollowing week, and every week thereafter, the mice were injected with15 μg pK1 in suspension with 1 μmol liposome (DC-Chol-containingliposomes prepared as previously described). As controls, 5 mice wereinjected with SK-OV-3 cells and then injected with the control plasmidpGEM liposomes every week. Based on the fact that previous data hasshown that pK1 can suppress neu-induced foci and transcription from theneu gene promoter, it is expected that the injected pK1 will reducetumor growth of the SK-OV-3 cells in the mice.

3. Liposomal Transfection With E1A and/or LT to Treat Humans

Based on the results of the in vivo animal studies described above,those of skill in the art will understand and predict the enormouspotential for human treatment of neu-mediated cancers with E1A and/or LTDNA complexed to liposomes. Clinical studies to demonstrate theseaffects are contemplated. One set of such studies is described inExample VI, 2. where clinical trials involving the use of LT complexedto liposomes are described. E1A or any other neu-suppressing geneproduct may be complexed with liposomes and employed in human studies ina manner similar to that described for LT. These clinical trials areanticipated to show utility of LT, E1A, and other neu-suppressing geneproducts for the treatment of neu-overexpressing cancers in humans.Dosage and frequency regimes will initially be based on the dataobtained from in vivo animal studies, as was described in Example VI, 2.

EXAMPLE VIII Adenoviral E1A Gene Therapy of Human Cancers ExpressingHigh Levels of P185

The present example provides for the introduction of the E1A or LT genefor treatment of human cancers expressing high levels of P185. This maybe achieved most preferably by introduction of the desired gene throughthe use of a viral vector to carry either the E1A or LT sequences toefficiently infect the tumor, or pretumorous tissue. These vectors willpreferably be an adenoviral, a retroviral, a vaccinia viral vector oradeno-associated virus (Muro-cacho et al., 1992). These vectors arepreferred because they have been successfully used to deliver desiredsequences to cells and tend to have a high infection efficiency. Theinventors have conducted studies showing that native adenovirus can beemployed to transfer the E1A gene in accordance with the invention.However, a particularly preferred type of adenovirus is the group ofreplication-deficient adenoviruses.

The HER-2/neu oncogene encodes a MW 185,000 epidermal growth factorreceptor-related transmembrane protein (p185) with intrinsic tyrosinekinase activity. Overexpression of the normal human HER-2/neuprotooncogene, which can also lead to higher overall tyrosine kinaseactivity, is a frequent event in many types of human cancers, includingcancers of the breast, ovarian, lung, uterine cervix, stomach and coloncancer, for example. Correlation between the overexpression of HER-2/neuand the number of lymph node metastases in breast cancer patients anddecreased survival in both breast and ovarian cancer patients has beenreported. The present inventors have shown in the previous examples thatadenovirus 5 E1A gene product can repress HER-2/neu oncogene expressionand suppress the tumorigenic and metastatic potential of activated ratneu oncogene-transformed mouse 3T3 cells. Introduction of the E1A geneinto the human ovarian cancer cell line SK-OV-3(i.p.), which hasenhanced expression of HER-2/neu, resulted in reduced malignantphenotypes in vitro and in vivo. Those data indicated that the E1A genecan be considered as a tumor suppressor gene for HER-2/neuoverexpressing human cancer cells.

Replication-deficient adenovirus represents a gene delivery system thatshould be able to efficiently transfer an exogenous gene directly totumor cells in vivo. Unlike vectors that require target cell replicationfor gene transfer, such as retrovirus which can only infectproliferating cells, adenovirus can transfer genes into bothproliferating and non-proliferating cells. The extrachromosomal locationof adenovirus in the cells (non-integration) decreases the chance ofactivating cellular oncogenes. A high titer of adenovirus is easilyproduced and purified. Replication-deficient adenovirus containing E1Awas constructed by E3 and E1B deletion matant (EBB and E3 is requiredfor adenovirus replication), control virus was constructed by additionalE1A deletion mutant.

The present example provides for the transduction ofreplication-deficient adenovirus containing E1A gene Ad.E1A(+)! intohuman cells in vitro and in vivo. Tumor suppressor gene E1A wasefficiently transduced into human ovarian cancer cell SK-OV-3(i.p.)cells by Ad.E1A(+) in vitro and in vivo (FIG. 22 and FIG. 26). Up to100% of the cells can be infected at either the virus/tumor ratio >50/1or at lower ratios with multiple infections. Tumor growth in vitro (FIG.23) and colony formation ability in soft agarose (FIG. 24) were greatlyinhibited by Ad.E1A(+). SK-OV-3(i.p.) (10⁶ /mouse) was transplanted intothe peritoneal cavity of nu/nu mice. Five days later they received anintraperitoneal injection of viral solution (titer: 2×10⁹ PFU/ml) fromeither Ad.E1A(+) , Ad.E1A(-), or Just PBS for 3 days, followed byonce/week for 4.5 months. Clinical observation and survival rates showedthat Ad.E1A(+) significantly prolonged the survival time of the mice andsome mice were kept tumor free (FIG. 25). Histoimmunochemical analysisindicated that Ad.E1A protein was expressed in tumor tissue after genedelivery in vivo and expression of HER-2/neu P185 protein was greatlysuppressed (FIGS. 28A-28C).

The ovarian cancer cell line 2774, which has a very low level ofexpression of HER-2/neu P185 protein, was also tested for thetherapeutic effect of Ad.E1A(+) (FIG. 27). Results showed that Ad.E1A(+)can not significantly prolong the survival rate of the 2774 cell line,indicating that Ad.E1A(+) specifically targets P185 high expressiontumor cells.

An orthotopic human lung cancer model in nu/nu mice was used to studythe effect of Ad.E1A(+) on tumor growth of human lung cancer cell lineNCI-H820 expressing a high level of P185 in vivo. Mouse tumor cells(5×10⁶), were inoculated intratracheally. Five days later, mice weretreated by intratracheal instillation of viral solution (titer: 2×10⁹PFU/ml) of Ad.E1A(+), Ad.E1A(-), or PBS, followed by once/week i.v.injection treatment for 2.5 months. At autopsy, more than 80% of controlmice but only 20% of treated mice had tumors as shown in Table 3 andFIGS. 29A-29C.

                  TABLE 3                                                         ______________________________________                                        THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF Ad · E1A                                       ON LUNG CANCER H820 IN NU/NU MICE                                                      Ad.E1A (+)                                                                              Ad.E1A (-) PBS                                             ______________________________________                                        No. mice with                                                                            1/5 (20%)   4/5 (80%)  5/5 (100%)                                  tumor/total (%)                                                               Mean volume ± SD                                                                      0.31        0.59 + 0.29                                                                              0.43 + 0.27                                 (cm.sup.3)                                                                    ______________________________________                                         Human nonsmall cell lung cancer line NCIH820 that has high expression of      HER2/neu was injected intratracheally into nu/nu mice (5 × 10.sup.6     /mouse) via a tracheotomy incision. Five days later, the mice were treate     once with intratracheal injection (0.1 ml) of either PBS, or Ad.E1A (-),      Ad.E1A (+) (Viral titer: 2 × 10.sup.9 PFU/ml), followed by weekly       i.v. injection treatment for 2.5 months. Then, mediastinal blocks were        removed and tumor volume was calculated. The results indicate that Ad.E1A     (+) can prevent the growth of human lung cancer cells implanted               orthotopically in nu/nu mice.                                            

From the above data, it is clear that the adenoviral gene deliverysystem is effective and that Ad.E1A(+) has a therapeutic effect onHER-2/neu expressing human ovarian and lung cancer tumors.

While the compositions and methods of this invention have been describedin terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skillin the art that variations may be applied to the composition, methodsand in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method describedherein without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of theinvention. More specifically, it will be apparent that certain agentswhich are both chemically and physiologically related may be substitutedfor the agents described herein while the same or similar results wouldbe achieved. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent tothose skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope andconcept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

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    __________________________________________________________________________    SEQUENCE LISTING                                                              (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                                      (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 1                                                  (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                 (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs                                                     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                        (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                      (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                          (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: oligonucleotide                                           (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:                                       TCTTGCTGGAATGCAGTTGG20                                                        __________________________________________________________________________

What is claimed is:
 1. A method to suppress an oncogenic phenotype of aneu oncogene overexpressing cell in a mammalian tumor, comprisingintroducing to said tumor a nucleic acid encoding an adenoviral E1A geneproduct operatively linked to a promoter, wherein production of the E1Agene product results in a reduction of an oncogenic phenotype asindicated by a reduction in a transforming, tumorigenic, or metastaticpotential of the cell.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the E1A gene isintroduced by the use of an adenovirus that contains E1A gene.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the adenovirus is a replication deficientadenovirus.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the replication deficientadenovirus is the Ad.E1A(+) adenovirus.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the E1A gene is located on a vector.
 6. The method of claim 5,wherein the vector comprises a viral vector.
 7. The method of claim 6,wherein the viral vector comprises an adenoviral vector.
 8. The methodof claim 1, wherein the E1A gene is formulated into a complex with atleast one lipid component.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the complexcomprises DOTMA, DOPE, or DC-Chol.
 10. The method of claim 8, whereinthe complex comprises DC-Chol.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein thecomplex comprises DC-Chol and DOPE.
 12. The method of claim 1, whereinthe promoter is an E1A promoter.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein theE1A gene encodes the E1A 12S or 13S gene product.
 14. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the tumorigenic potential of the cell is suppressed.15. The method of claim 1, wherein the metastatic potential of the cellis suppressed.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the oncogenicphenotype is cancer.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the cancer isbreast cancer.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the cancer is ovariancancer.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the cancer is lung cancer.20. A method for suppressing the over-expression of the neu gene in aneu-overexpressing cell in a mammalian tumor, comprising introducing tosaid tumor a nucleic acid encoding an adenoviral E1A gene productoperatively linked to a promoter, wherein production of the E1A geneproduct results in suppression of the cellular level of the neu p185transmembrane protein.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the promoteris an E1A promoter.
 22. The method of claim 20, wherein the nucleic acidsegment is located on a vector.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein thevector comprises a viral vector.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein theviral vector comprises an adenoviral vector.
 25. The method of claim 20,wherein the nucleic acid segment is introduced via an adenovirus thatcontains the E1A gene.
 26. The method of claim 23, wherein theadenovirus is a replication-deficient adenovirus.
 27. The method ofclaim 26, wherein the replication deficient adenovirus is the Ad.E1A(+)adenovirus.
 28. The method of claim 20, wherein the nucleic acid segmentis formulated into a complex with at least one lipid component.
 29. Themethod of claim 28, wherein the complex comprises DOTMA, DOPE, orDC-Chol.
 30. The method of claim 28, wherein the complex comprisesDC-Chol.
 31. The method of claim 28, wherein the complex comprisesDC-Chol and DOPE.
 32. The method of claim 20, wherein the E1A geneproduct comprises the E1A 12S or 13 S gene product.